There's only a few hundred votes between Lib Dem and cons where I live, so got the quickest response ever today when I followed up their first useless response with my decision not to vote for them today .... what do we think of this latest response?
Dear Xx
Thank you for your email of 26th November.
I believe there has been a misunderstanding in our communications, and I am sorry that this happened.
Our manifesto (and of course Sarah) is squarely against abuse in any form, and the prison case you describe is one where abuse has occurred and is not in any way something that could be supported by her as a result of policy reform.
I believe the miscommunication happened because your original note mentioned self-identification, and that my answer to you was based upon what we have committed to as a party, rather than a discussion of things that we have not committed to. The Liberal Democrat manifesto does not mention self-identification at all, and so it cannot in any way be construed that we are committed to supporting self-identification. The manifesto is clear that we intend to complete the reform of the Gender Recognition Act, specifically by removing the requirement for a medical report, the need to pay a fee, and that it will recognise the non-binary gender identities.
You have of course raised an important point for policy-makers to be aware of, which is that any policy can have unintended consequences if not properly thought through and appropriately consulted before implementation. Our commitment to Reform of the Gender Recognition Act will be carried through with consultation and understanding of the safeguards needed - as any legislation and reform must be. This will include full consideration of the consultation that was carried out earlier this year, which specifically recognised that people had concerns about how the Gender Recognition Act would interact with the Equalities Act 2010. One possible consequence of this approach is that the measures we have committed to introducing under reform of the Gender Recognition Act do not necessarily mean that self-identification will be introduced. For example, the results of the consultation and any further scrutiny of the legislation may suggest that it should not. Further, our commitment to reforming the Gender Recognition Act does not rule out protection of single-sex spaces where this is deemed to be a proportionate means to meeting a legitimate aim. This would apply, for example, as a means of mitigating risks in the prison incident you highlighted. Risks would need to be considered both for risks to women as you mentioned, and to transwomen in mens jails.
I do hope this has clarified Sarah's position for you.
with kind regards,
Hi XX
It appears that Ms Olney is OK with allowing any man to self- ID as a female, regardless of whether they are trans or just aiming to gain access to female spaces. See Karen White – a rapist who was moved to a female prison as she self-IDd as a woman despite still having all male anatomy, and who then went on to sexually abuse women inmates, as an example of what is already happening. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/karen-white-transgender-prisoner-jailed-life-sexual-assault-rape-a8579146.html
Shame on the Lib Dems for selling women and young adults down the river. I cannot vote for a party which is unable to see the danger to women and young adults in self-ID.
Regards
Dear Xx
thank you for your email of 14th November regarding women's rights and gender self identification. This is a really important area and one that has been addressed squarely in our manifesto. The key points that we are committed to support on gender rights are based on the premise that we believe should be able to go about their lives without fear of discrimination. We believe that government needs to take an active role both in punishing discrimination and ensuring that it does not happen in the first place. We will:
• Complete reform of the Gender Recognition Act to remove the requirement for medical reports, scrap the fee and recognise non-binary gender identities.
• Introduce an ‘X’ gender option on passports and extend equality law to cover gender identity and expression.
• Ensure accurate population data on sexual orientation and gender identity by including a question on LGBT+ status within the 2021 Census
• End period poverty by removing VAT on sanitary products and providing them for free in schools, hospitals, hostels, shelters, libraries, leisure centres, stadiums, GP surgeries, food banks, colleges and universities.
• Scrap the so-called ‘Pink Tax’, ending the gender price gap.
• Require schools to introduce gender-neutral uniform policies and break down outdated perceptions of gender appropriateness of certain subjects.
• Outlaw caste discrimination.
If I have the honour to become elected I will be supporting the development and implementation of these policies.
Our full election manifesto containing these and all our other policies can be read at the link below.

Jo’s Plan for the Future
Read Jo Swinson's Plan for Britain's Future - Stop Brexit Build a Brighter Future - Liberal Democrat Manifesto 2019
www.libdems.org.uk
with kind regards,
Xx
Hello Sarah
In determining which way I will vote at this upcoming election I am trying to understand how each candidate would vote w.r.t. women’s rights and gender self ID.
Would you vote to uphold women’s sex-based rights as outlined in the Equality Act and , if necessary, strengthen them?
Or would you allow anyone self-identifying as a woman to claim these rights regardless of their actual sex?
If you could confirm before polling day,
Thanks