How do the promises made by political parties regarding sex and gender stack up against each other?

With gender ideology sparking culture wars in ways unforeseen decades ago, parties’ stances on maintaining single-sex spaces, protecting women’s rights, and safeguarding children are under scrutiny. What is being promised to address the demands of lobbying groups advocating for “transgender rights?”

Gender Change Certificates and Self-ID

Labor’s Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash in 2021 for dismissing MP Rosie Duffield’s statement that “only women have a cervix,” suggesting it should not be said. He seemed to backtrack more recently, stating agreement with Tony Blair that “a man has a penis and a woman has a vagina.”

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has also made controversial statements regarding women having penises. Both party manifestos pledge to streamline the process of obtaining gender recognition certificates for individuals identifying as the opposite sex.

The Green Party supports self-identification and removing the spousal veto. Reform UK and the Tories make no direct commitments on legal gender changes but focus on broader policy goals.

Conversion Therapy

The Conservatives have abandoned plans for a ban on conversion therapy due to concerns about impacts on therapists. Meanwhile, Labor, Lib Dems, and Greens are moving forward with bans on such practices.

The Cass Review and Transgender Ideology in Schools

Reform pledges to ban transgender ideology in schools. The Lib Dems focus on delivering high-quality sex and relationship education, while Tories promise to implement Cass recommendations.

Single-Sex Spaces

Tories plan to clarify protected sex under the Equality Act, highlighting biological sex over gender identity. Labor, Lib Dems, and Greens lack specific commitments in this area. Lib Dems also pledge to collect data based on gender and support asylum seekers based on sexual orientation or gender identity.