The United Kingdom’s Labour Party has announced that transgender women will not be allowed to attend its 2026 National Women’s Conference, following a legal review influenced by a recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of sex under the Equality Act.
The decision, approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday, comes after the court ruled in April that “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex rather than self-defined gender identity.
Under the new rule, individuals who are biologically male but identify as female will no longer be permitted to attend keynote sessions, participate in policy debates, vote on motions, or take part in committee elections at the conference. However, they will still be allowed access to exhibition areas, fringe events and an evening reception during the gathering in Liverpool.
A Labour Party spokesperson said the move was a result of both legal obligations and internal party considerations.
“The National Women’s Conference will take place in 2026 after a comprehensive legal review,” the spokesperson said. “This decision reflects our commitment to addressing the under-representation of women in the party while ensuring full compliance with the law.”
The policy shift has drawn criticism from Labour for Trans Rights, an internal advocacy group, which called on the NEC to reverse what it described as a damaging decision.
“Trans members are being excluded from key democratic processes within the Labour Party, despite many having spent years canvassing, organising and standing as candidates,” the group said in a statement.
Meanwhile, former Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Baroness Falkner of Margravine, also criticised the Labour Party, accusing it of retreating on women’s rights.
“What saddens me most about the current state of the Labour Party is that it appears to have completely abandoned women’s rights,” Falkner said. “This was historically the party of feminism and equality.”
She further alleged that Labour leaders were reluctant to publish official guidance on implementing the Supreme Court ruling due to pressure from within the party.
“The most likely explanation is fear of backlash from MPs who strongly support trans self-identification and oppose the exemptions provided in the Equality Act,” she said.
Baroness Falkner added that the draft guidance submitted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission months ago was legally sound and ready for publication.
Responding to the criticism, a government spokesperson said the delay was intentional.
“We are taking the necessary time to ensure the guidance is legally robust and fit for purpose,” the spokesperson said. “Issuing rushed or flawed guidance would ultimately fail the people it is meant to protect.”
The decision has intensified debate within the Labour Party and across the UK over how to balance gender identity issues with existing equality laws ahead of the 2026 conference.
