Mary Ann Stephenson confirmed chair of EHRC

I wonder what level the pair of them to start their own ‘collective’ rather than lend their weight to one of the existing organisation that shares the same mission as them?!

Have Stonewall made any kind of comment? Even a year ago, they would have been all over this. Yet we're hearing more from people in their bedsits than we are from the previously powerful Stonewall.

The times they are a changin', for sure.

I've just googled them and found this on their website.

About Us
The Trans Advocacy and Complaint Collective UK is a grassroots organisation started in 2024 by a pair of dedicated trans women to advocate for trans rights, address transphobia, and ensure that the voices of trans people are heard across the UK. Since our inception, we have grown to a membership of over 120 people.

Our mission is to create a united front for all trans, detrans, non-binary, queer, intersex and cis allies to push back against discrimination, hold media accountable for transphobic content, and ensure that our voices are heard. If you’re passionate about activism, need support, or want to help make real change, there’s a place for you in our collective.

We are an apolitical organisation, so we cater to all.

So basically a tiny trans start-up with inflated ideas of their own importance.

She should be, based on her earlier work, but she's fanatically TWAW.

Don't know how that happened. I assume a trans identified family member or close friend.

Is Helena Kennedy not GC?

I don't know about David Alton. He's a very idiosyncratic character. He's a bit of a social conservative, which is why he fell out with the Lib Dems, but I believe he's also quite tight with Helena Kennedy.

I imagine there was quite a bit of wrangling over that letter, reflected in the way it never explicitly mentions trans although that was obviously the big issue motivating committee members.

Did Lord Alton get a vote after the pre-appointment interview? Other than the fact he is a Lib-Dem I'm surprised at him if he did indeed go along with the agenda of the others.

Issacs destroyed women's rights and worked outside the law. He believed that TWAW was only a matter of time so they could get ahead of the law. At least there is now a chance that all the protected characteristics will continue to get more equal treatment when Baroness Falkner departs. Issacs was the start of the idea that the law can be ignored or bent. He has a lot to answer for.

What will TACC do? Hand out emotional support pets?

TACC Statement: Withdrawal of Recognition of the EHRC as a Human Rights Institution.

I assumed TACC would be an alliance of trans advocacy groups/organsiations working together to increase their influence- like the Autism Alliance or the Mental Health Alliance. I was curious as to which TRA groups were managing to collaborate and ‘stay friends’, but discovered that my assumption was wrong!

They seem to have emerged into some sort of prominence after FWS. I don't think they've got any serious legal expertise, but they get quoted a lot on trans reddit giving advice that TIMs have a legal right to access any single sex space they like and nobody can challenge them.

They've even got a wee nifty letter or card or something that the TIM can show officialdom saying you're breaching my Article 8 rights.

I suppose like a lot of these alphabet community groups they've got as much heft as institutions are willing to allow them.

'the most marginalised communities'

OK, so who's that then? People with disabilities who require 'changing places' toilets with hoists and have specific accessibility needs?

Oh, silly me... it's people who identify as trans.

From that waily-wail TACC statement @Imnobody4 shared,
It is another calculated move in the state-sanctioned campaign to exclude trans people from public life
How? The hyperbole, as ever, is off the scale.

Yes I saw that on Reddit, who tf are they anyway?

Trans Advocacy and Complaint Collective UK isn't happy (I'd not heard of this group)

TACC Statement: Withdrawal of Recognition of the EHRC as a Human Rights Institution

We no longer recognise the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) as either independent or credible in its statutory role.
The UK Government's decision to proceed with the appointment of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson as Chair of the EHRC despite formal objections from both the Joint Committee on Human Rights and Women and Equalities Committee marks a critical turning point.
These are cross-party parliamentary bodies with statutory remits to safeguard human rights and equality in the UK. Their concerns were clear: Dr Stephenson lacks the necessary leadership experience, breadth of expertise and public trust required to restore the EHRC's legitimacy across all protected characteristics particularly among the most marginalised communities.

Trans communities and our allies condemn this appointment as a deliberate and strategic continuation of the EHRC's transformation into a tool of political control rather than human rights defence. As many organisations, including TACC, have made clear, this decision represents not neutrality, but complicity. It is another calculated move in the state-sanctioned campaign to exclude trans people from public life and to rollback the protections that once existed under UK equalities law.

Effective immediately, we will no longer cooperate with the EHRC. We will not consult with them, we will not participate in their reviews, and we will not treat their outputs as representative of human rights standards. We no longer recognise them as an NHRI.

We urge other civil society organisations, equality bodies, and campaign groups, particularly those working with and for marginalised communities, to join us in withdrawing recognition from the EHRC. Continued engagement risks lending legitimacy to an institution that no longer upholds the values of independence, accountability, or universality that human rights demand. By stepping back, we send a collective message: the erosion of rights and state capture of regulatory bodies cannot be normalised.

I think this is good, but sadly as much as for putting the WEC in its place.

But was suprised by earlier comments on this thread, that some didn't seem to be aware of MAS.

So for those of us who endured the approval proces (not as much MAS herself) and wants to understand just how far outside of natural justice, professional behaviour, and many other faults, here are the earlier threads!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5349149-government-announces-preferred-candidate-for-ehrc-chair

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5351674-wec-to-question-the-ehrc-chair-and-chief-executive-11-june-2025-220pm

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5365280-per-appointment-hearing-for-new-chair-of-ehrc-this-afternoon

The more politicians who realise this is a vote loser the better.

I am certainly challenging my MP on women’s rights.

Tim Roca - we haven’t forgotten you 😵‍💫

Pete Buttigieg has dared to insinuate that boys should not take part in girls' sports, and the transes are FUMIN!!!

Even the Dems are rowing away from this nonsense. See also Gavin Newsom.

Yes and I think the re-election of Trump hasn’t hurt either. How the Democrats did not see that coming is beyond me. They have not only nearly destroyed their own party, they have foisted Trump on the American people and are STILL promoting gender ideology. Baffling.

Great to hear what Chappy McBlokeface thinks of Dr Stephenson and the WEC sitch. Cheers, matey! Thank god we have a man piping up to keep us right!

And I bet our swivel-eyes MP has something to say about it as well. Forgotten his name but he is very anti women who don’t agree with him.

I think it is because there is an increasing number of politicians who are finally realising that’s the trans debate is polarised and that there are more votes to be lost than gained.

The TRAs are out with their shouty voices and placards but it is the quiet ones who have become increasingly aware of what has happened to women’s sports / changing rooms / toilets/ single sex services / hospital wards who actually make the effort to vote that count.

Totally disingenuous, of course......we all know the real reason.

Excellent news.

The transes on Reddit and BlueHairSky are not happy.

Wierd. Sad times.

I have deep concerns about the leadership, expertise and ability to rebuild trust of the Women and Equalities Committee, perhaps he could let me know when those have been addressed?