Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

WEC to question the EHRC Chair and Chief Executive 11 June 2025 2:20pm

236 replies

IwantToRetire · 09/06/2025 18:13

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will question the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Baroness Falkner of Margravine in Parliament on Wednesday, 11 June during its annual scrutiny session of the EHRC.

Venue: The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Watch live: Visit parliamentlive.tv Women and Equalities Committee

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will question the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Baroness Falkner of Margravine in Parliament on Wednesday, 11 June during its annual scrutiny session of the EHRC.

MPs on the cross-party committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, will discuss the EHRC’s work and resources and wider equalities policy, including the implications of the For Women Scotland Supreme Court judgment and the EHRC’s subsequent consultation on the Code of Practice.

The Committee will hear from the EHRC’s Chief Executive, John Kirkpatrick, alongside Baroness Falkner.

Witnesses
Starting at 2.20pm
Baroness Kishwer Falkner of Margravine, Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission
John Kirkpatrick, Chief Executive, Equality and Human Rights Commission

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/328/women-and-equalities-committee/news/207403/wec-to-question-the-ehrc-chair-and-chief-executive/

(I came across this by chance whilst looking for a date for the WEC interview with Mary-Ann Stephenson but could find nothing - anybody know when it will be.)

OP posts:
Original poster
IwantToRetire · 11/06/2025 16:21

Do these people not understand that the Supreme Court has made a ruling.

If they think it is wrong they are MPs and can re write the act.

This hostile personal attack of one woman, because the law has pointed out the TRAs have been in the wrong.

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:21

SionnachRuadh · 11/06/2025 16:19

Is it just me, or are almost all the members of the committee making an argument on the basis that you can't possibly clock a TW unless they're not allowed to use the ladies?

The Chair asked Falkner how she could tell she was a “cisgender woman” whatever she means by that.

DisappearingGirl · 11/06/2025 16:20

Wimpund and Equalities Committee

SionnachRuadh · 11/06/2025 16:20

I'm not being funny, but watching the WEC sometimes feels like an argument against female suffrage. Thank God for Rosie.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:19

Maybe like the WEP suggestion, the Whatever and Equalities Committee.

SionnachRuadh · 11/06/2025 16:19

Is it just me, or are almost all the members of the committee making an argument on the basis that you can't possibly clock a TW unless they're not allowed to use the ladies?

DisappearingGirl · 11/06/2025 16:18

Ideas for new names for the WEC?

Committee for Abolition of Female Rights

Royal Society for the Prevention of Women

Down With Women

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:16

“We’ve heard a lot about the biological sex interpretation of the judgment” - yes, that’s what the whole thing was about and what the ruling was 🙄

WithSilverBells · 11/06/2025 16:15

CEO suggests that the consultation guidance is followed right now, as "the best that's currently available".

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:11

Falkner pointing out that they can’t win, they would have been hauled over the coals if they hadn’t put out any update quickly.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 11/06/2025 16:11

oooooooh - now she's said it.

Trans community may have had more faith in previous EHRC Chair, but then they had formerly been Chair of Stonewall!!

OP posts:
WithSilverBells · 11/06/2025 16:08

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:03

I’m on that bit now! What a plum. Cringing.

Show quote history

I was truly shocked by that. Has the chair read the SC ruling or the EqA 2010? Basic homework surely?

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:07

Oh Jane Fae doesn’t agree with the guidance? Heaven forbid.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:06

I like this CEO guy too. He’s given some good, unarguable answers.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:03

Cailleach1 · 11/06/2025 15:43

Blinkin’ heck! The chair said that the question about sports wasn’t relevant as the SC case was about places on Boards. So, she said Rebecca’s question about sports wasn’t relevant. Then Rebecca had to come back and say it was about the definition of sex in the Equality Act and does indeed cover sports.

Rosie wonderfully and ironically then had a question about misinformation. Imagine that! The Chair of the Committee saying that women’s sports was not relevant to the SC decision. Thank goodness she was immediately corrected.
(bit of paraphrasing)

I’m on that bit now! What a plum. Cringing.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 16:01

She referred to a “course correction” when referring to uncapturing the EHRC. Good use of language.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 11/06/2025 16:00

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 15:54

Liked Rebecca’s input.

Yes there is only Rebecca and Rosie. Is it chance they are sitting beside each other.

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 15:58

Yes it’s up to Parliament to change the law and I’m sure lobbying is going on furiously behind the scenes.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 11/06/2025 15:57

In the earlier part if was really interesting that the Committee was trying to say that previously the EHRC had given different guidance and Falkner tactifully said we had to asses if anything had to said in error.

Meaning she was bought in by the Tories because it became clear that the EHRC had been captured. ie the TRAs in the EHRC had been giving out deliberately wrong advice.

And Labour MPs are obviously that the EHRC has been uncaptured.

That's why it will be really interesting to see how robust Mary-Ann Stephenson will turn out to be.

So basically what is going on is an attempt to get back the power positions the TRAs thought they had captured.

Worryingly a Labour Government could reverse this deStonewalling of the EHRC.

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 15:54

Liked Rebecca’s input.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 11/06/2025 15:51

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 15:48

What do they think Falkner should do, ignore the SC judgment? 🙄

This is just part of the campaign to make out the problem is her as an individual.

None of them have acknowledged the bullying etc., she has endured. She / the EHRC are just doing their job.

As an earlier questioner said seems to me it is up to Parliament to make a better act.

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 15:48

What do they think Falkner should do, ignore the SC judgment? 🙄

TangenitalContrivence · 11/06/2025 15:47

Intersex people are not between sexes. Can't she just say that? :D

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 15:46

Ah yes, I see they might want to do that @Cailleach1

Cailleach1 · 11/06/2025 15:45

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/06/2025 15:35

Do we call people hermaphrodites when they have DSDs now?

I think that was trying to insert the notion that people can be two sexes at once.