Is now the time to challenge councils on why they are still breaking the law?

Infuriating is putting it politely.

Further delving has revealed that my council also has a policy on Violence against Women and Girls.

"The Council resolves:
· To ensure XXX Council continues to do everything in its power to build a city free from misogyny and VAWG.
· To create a VAWG Taskforce. It is vital that women’s and girl’s voices are heard. The Council will create a process that proactively listens to women’s voices across the city. This task force will be open to include and involve all women and self identifying women Councillors.
· To become a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation."

Then I looked up whiteribbon.org.uk, and it looks as if it's on board the trans wagon. Anyone know for sure?

@EmpressaurusKitty & @WittyLimeBiscuit Have looked at my own council's responses to the WRN's FOI requests and they are utterly infuriating, and not just the usual waiting on the EHRC guidance.

Examples of infuriation:

Q: On 28th May 2025 WRN asks about Equality Impact Assessments, "particularly with regard to policies that affect women and sex-based rights".
A: "All the EQIA that have gone to cabinet do not have any regard to policies that affect women and sex-based rights".

Q: On 28th July 2025 WRN asks again about EQIA, asking for details of staff training, internal/external, etc, to ensure in line with the Equality Act.
A: "We have a [sic] EDI Specialist and they* looks at EQIA and advises staff on this."

*My italics - it's a they/them in charge of EDI. And a captured FOI Officer.

I think it might be time to stop playing nice and start launching legal challenges in the courts.

Thanks @PoliticalTerfery Just checked and there are a few including a swimming pool (with inclusive policies) and a gym which has "Ladies only sessions - strictly women only". I will email to ask for clarification.

Whether they run any local leisure centres, and what rules for changing rooms they have?

Thanks for starting this thread @Shedmistress I just checked my council's transgender policy (which pre-dates Supreme Court judgment) and it begins with the words "Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary." You can guess the rest.

I'm going to first check out the toilets / signage at the town hall, before I write. Anything else I could check on?

This is true. My point is that the guidance will make it clearer to them that they can be sued to fuck.

they always could be sued to fuck. They can be sued to fuck now.

The handwringing over the non publication of the guidance is pointless.

they can be sued to fuck. Today.

they all rely on the fact that the vast majority of the women who WANT to sue them to fuck don’t have the means. Except for JKR. And crowd funding.

It pisses me off. And it an example of how the patriarchy still exists.

They can already be sued to fuck, the law is the law and them choosing not to follow it because of crappy HR/EDI guidance or lack of the new EHRC guidance is no defence.

It's disgusting to think that women have to sue to get their legal rights upheld.

It will when it’s clear they can be sued to fuck

Once the guidance is tabled (and I’m not convinced it will be any time soon) I suspect answers will be along the lines of ‘we need to work through the guidance and our policies, along with taking further legal advice, which will take some time...'

I have no confidence that the guidance will make a difference.

This is a good point

Letter writing to councils is a great plan, but I would wait till the guidance drops which should be in the next two weeks or so.

Otherwise they might give you a useless answer about waiting.

A huge Mumsnet campaign AFTER the guidance appears and there are no excuses is best.

Not just to councils, but every major business, NHS, university, college and school local sports groups.

Then we do follow up campaign after 3 months or so.

Hear hear.
Dangerous times.

Saw this on x

https://x.com/fraserihudghton/status/2054916540005282283?s=46&t=A2fpFNgDRyXF2d6ye97wEA

Great suggestion @Shedmistress

Women's Rights Network has already published reports on the councils in England and Scotland 'waiting for guidance' from the EHRC. You can find them both on their website
https://www.womensrights.network/wrn-reports

And love that template letter @ArabellaScott. Let's do this!

Great plan OP.

Dear [Name/Title],

I am writing to ask what steps [organisation/local authority] has taken to ensure compliance with the recent UK Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers and the legal position set out therein regarding the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.

I would be grateful if you could clarify:

• Whether your organisation has reviewed its policies, guidance, staff training, and public-facing materials in light of the judgment
• Whether single-sex services and spaces are now being operated on the basis of biological sex, as clarified by the Court
• Whether any policies continue to rely on self-identification or Gender Recognition Certificates in circumstances where the Equality Act refers to sex-based rights or protections
• What timetable is in place for any necessary policy revisions

I note that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has publicly stated that the legal position is already clear and that organisations should not wait for updated EHRC guidance before acting. In its interim update following the judgment, the EHRC stated:

“Organisations should be aware that the Supreme Court judgment has clarified the law. They should take appropriate specialist legal advice where necessary.”

The EHRC further indicated that the judgment itself now authoritatively sets out the meaning of the relevant provisions of the Equality Act.

Given that public authorities are expected to act lawfully and consistently with the Equality Act as interpreted by the Supreme Court, I would appreciate a clear response setting out your organisation’s current position and actions.

Yours faithfully,

[Your name]

Great plan OP.

A group of us did this - we asked about single sex changing in Council-run leisure centres & also about what training the council staff had had after the Supreme Court ruling & were very pleased with the answers.

Friends did the same in their area & were less impressed.

The public are allowed to submit questions into Council to be answered at public meetings. This is a great way of getting issues in front of each council in one fell swoop, and an answer to your question in public.

WRN were all over this a few months ago.

It’s the second report on the list. https://www.womensrights.network/wrn-reports

If I’m truthful, sex matters should have been all over this. I’ve been rather puzzled over their recent actions. This is exactly what they could do

I think it would be helpful for a shared letter example for us to send to councils reminding them of their lawful duty.

You’re absolutely right, there’s no particular guidance needed; the waiting excuse is just an excuse.

Advice on how to check and a lift if councils on a shared Google document of some sort.

Well, they’ve been elected, they might as well do something useful!