WEP statement from Sophie Walker

I feel that WEP betrayed women, so while I’m interested in this announcement, and I’d love for them to become properly GC, it’s very much “too little too late”.

Having said that, we need all the help we can get and I’m not proud. So come on, Sophie, pull your finger out, get off the fence and fight for women.

I think all the political parties must now be wondering how to draw back from the promises they've made to trans people about the GRA. It's clearly not the free win that they thought it would be when the consultation was first announced. Their stupidity about the issue, because none of them has a feminist analysis or gives a fuck about women anyway, meant they thought it would be a lovely popular move, like making gay marriage legal. Something only genuine bigots could disagree with and which affects nobody except the individuals concerned.

Even before the recent revelations about Jess Bradley and David Challenor, they have been realising their mistake. They haven't suddenly developed intelligence, or started caring about women's rights, but they have realised this is unpopular with the electorate and makes them look like twats.

When we went to see our MP to talk about the GRA, she told us there has already been some push back against the original position of her party (Tories). However, she was noncommittal about her stance, and I think a lot of them are unwilling to put their heads above the parapet. I find it very mealy mouthed of them to leave it to women to speak up and get the abuse, when they're being paid to represent us.

If the WEP doesn't speak out on this, there is no justification for their existence. Who on earth would vote for them?

We should start a Mumsnet political party. We could do a better job than most of the self serving muppets right now!

And women being 'nice' will be the death of us...

seriously too little too late.... they so missed a trick or thirty: This ONE big issue would have been an opportunity to differentiate themselves from ALL the other political parties and actually champions WOMEN, their remit.... They would have so gathered followers and been recognised for playing a huge role in shaping how we look after women and girls in this country.... And they should have been one step ahead of the rest of us in recognising what was at stake, rather than tripping over their own feet and realising too late...

Totally agree with -

I suppose, when the money from your core potential membership demographic starts drying up you have to start listening

This^ Women who are involved in WEP are more likely to have some knowledge of basic femininst principles, and more likely to be dismayed by the party being taken over by TRAs. They may not be able to speak up, but they can quietly let their memberships lapse. Their are not enough TRAs in the UK to financially support the party. I'm sure the people in charge can see what is happening with their membership numbers and can draw some conclusions. They can also see an almighty backlash coming (TRAs, me-too etc etc) and if they position the party correctly they could pick up a lot of new members.

Filia’s reply to the statement is 👌

Pleased WEP recognise the importance of democratic debate and need for single-sex services and protections. Anti-transphobia and pro-women's rights are not mutually exclusive positions. We stand by our spokeswoman HBE in her continued call for the same.

isn't catherine meyer, one of the founders of WEP pretty much 100% lib fem / cool girl 'women should be nice, WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO THE LOVELY TRANS LADIES?'

I think she wrote an article which basically boiled down to the above

i can image that she and sophie aren't getting on too well these days

too little too late, but at least SW is doing something

do more, try harder.

you have a platform. don't use it to stitch up women.

I suppose, when the money from your core potential membership demographic starts drying up you have to start listening

This^ Women who are involved in WEP are more likely to have some knowledge of basic femininst principles, and more likely to be dismayed by the party being taken over by TRAs. They may not be able to speak up, but they can quietly let their memberships lapse. Their are not enough TRAs in the UK to financially support the party. I'm sure the people in charge can see what is happening with their membership numbers and can draw some conclusions. They can also see an almighty backlash coming (TRAs, me-too etc etc) and if they position the party correctly they could pick up a lot of new members.

And why do we have to waste women's time centring the issues of a group of male people?

Yep. Why do those issues always always always have to take precedence?

Thanks Ereshkigal I had thought she was off social media, so didn’t look.

And why do we have to waste women's time centring the issues of a group of male people? Largely irrelevant to women. Patriarchy in action.

Why is it that women must always be the ones who have to play nice. What century are we living in?

And like RedToothBrush said, isn't it interesting timing.

Re Stella Duffy, She's commented on it:

twitter.com/stellduffy/status/1034519062888501248?s=20

WEP Conference 2018:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3325882-WEP-conference-questions-for-panel-of-trans-rights-advocating-barristers

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3318961-Ultimate-betrayal-by-the-WEP

March 2018:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3190170-a-flicker-of-hope-regarding-wep-and-trans-issues

What’s Stella Duffy’s position on all of this, I wonder?

Ah no

American I think

I’m so happy about this. As a staunchly gender critical WEP member I wholeheartedly welcome this and am looking forward to conference with a lot less worry and a lot more hope now.

Also great that assuming this plays out how Sophie suggests, all members will have a chance to contribute, not just those able to attend conference.

Doing politics differently for real.

Thanks not one I’d encountered before.

Is the WEP now largely composed of "non-men" then? Seems sad so many women's organisations lack the guts to tell people with Y chromosomes to form their own parties. We wouldn't try hijacking a trans party, happy to leave them to get on with it. Some use government funding regulations as an excuse but I think more organisations should seek to be indepeneantly financed if goverment funding means pretending men can become women who then try and take over.

Not sure if they're a WEP member.

A TRA. They've popped up on MN to scold us before.

Who is Christine Hart who’s making defamatory remarks about mumsnet and Debbie Hayton? Are they a WEP member?

She is totally gender critical she is just being too nice to say.

We don't need nice, we need courage

SwearyG I noticed that too, it grated immediately. FFS, they have taken money, time and goodwill from WOMEN to centre WOMEN, and yet women's RIGHTS are still second priority to men's feelings.

Could not be less impressed. This is arse-covering. "Oh look, we had a debate. Get over it."

Go on, WEP, prove me wrong. I would love you to.