Crowdfunder Women to Labour Party (on All-Women Shortlists) Official Statement

[JenniferJames]

'Our solicitors have, today, sent our pre-action protocol and submissions letter to the Labour Party in respect of the definition of “woman” for protected positions and all-women shortlists.

Our solicitors are Bhogal Partners, and through them we have instructed Amanda Jones of Counsel, who is a tenant at Great James Street Chambers in London. The letter was drafted by Miss Jones after consultation with the solicitors and on instructions.

We hope that the Labour Party will take our letter and concerns seriously, and consider the points raised in it carefully. '

ends

If we're going to look for root causes I'd say the rot started with the Gender Recognition Act 2004. This codified into law the concept that "yes, yes, of course it isn't true, we all know this, but let's pretend it is true".

This.

If we're going to look for root causes I'd say the rot started with the Gender Recognition Act 2004. This codified into law the concept that "yes, yes, of course it isn't true, we all know this, but let's pretend it is true" I also think the Equality Act in 2010 did not see the competing interests of 'Sex' and 'Gender Recognition', especially since the definition of Gender recognition in the 2004 act has very wide boundaries.

Positively yep

Munroe Bergdorf has been forced to resign.

I could only read a bit of the Guardian article - when Munroe said they quit L'Oréal.
No sacked for racist comments

Another mental health slur by one of the usual suspects.

I don't even know what that means. I don't think I've ever posted '"'do you need a break?' 'worried about you' ;you seem a little paranoid'". Feel free to show me where I have though. This is specifically about asking women to stay in a party that clearly doesn't give a flying fuck about them. If you don't like 'Stockhom Syndrome' I'll use the analogy of staying with an abusive partner.

I've supported the crowdfunder because I think that the acceptance of self-identifying TiMs on AWSs is in breach of the Equality Act and marks an attempt to change the law by stealth. Essentially creating precedence. I support any attempt to challenge that in the courts as the consequences of acceptance of that spread beyond the Labour party.

Personally I don't think that the acceptance of TiMs with a GRA is in the spirit of AWS but it's a suitable compromise in the light of the wording of the EA

Will the Labour party be allowed to use a non-dictionary definition of the word woman?

I think there are 2 reasons why Labour’s expansion of the term are problematic:

A) As far as I know they have sought to impose this definition without changing the Rule Book. The rule book says AWSs are for ‘women’ and this gloss on who counts as a woman has never been approved by members. The Courts have previously held that the Rule Book is effectively a contract between Labour and its members so the Courts can adjudicate.

B) The Equality Act 2010 says you can do AWSs without it being discriminatory, but doesn’t say you can do shortlists just for women and men with the protected characteristic of planning to go through gender reassignment.

That’s my understanding anyway but I’m sure someone can correct me if there is anything not quite right.

Any guesses as to what their inclusive definition of woman is?

Anyone. Everyone.

It has to include everyone otherwise it would exclude someone, and that would not be inclusive.

Thanks for doing this Jennifer.

Any guesses as to what their inclusive definition of woman is?

Anyone.* Everyone.

*MEN

Yep, excellent work. Getting the letter in today looks to be very well timed.

Another mental health slur by one of the usual suspects.

Not getting this either lifelong hasn't posted much at all under this username...certainly not on many threads ive been looking at

Thank you

I've rejoined the Labour Party Jennifer. I don't agree with all of your politics, I'm very much centre/left, but I do recognise your anger over this and have donated and will help as much as I can.

Good luck.

P.S. The local CLP know I've donated to your funding as I put it on FB. No one has come back to me about it.

Labour is a party that is steeped in social democracy. I for one favour this political approach as being the best to deliver a freer and fairer society for all. Personally, I'm not happy with the current direction, but I doubt everyone is on board with other parties as well. I'm sticking with the devil I know.

Here ends the political party speech.

I want to say a heartfelt thanks to you for doing this Jen.

Not just because it might just make a difference but also because if there was no way I could contribute to a meaningful pushback I think I might have suffocated on my own fury

Well done jennifer for all your efforts to date. It is good to see things in motion and the fight back begin properly.

Thanks MsMalcontent. Marvellous news.

I know you’re getting a hard time Jennifer, passions are running high and unfortunately people are taking their frustrations out on the only person from labour, that is speaking to them. I’m sorry for that and I know we all really appreciate that you’re putting yourself on the line for ALL women. I’m sure you feel attacked at times. 💐

Agree that with nowhere better to go and with the alternative being the Tories it is best to stay and fight.

Brexit is a toxic hot potato in Parliament right now. It's even worse in the Governent - the two are separate.

I think Labour's response to the Brexit disaster is very telling and the shadow cabinet should be 100% with the Brexit shadow minister, Kier Starmer, and there should be no fudging on this.

Sorry for the derail.

All power to you Jennifer on this!

Good luck, Jen. I hope you've got plenty of personal support, out there in the front line like this. It must be unbearable at times.

I might have left Labour (sigh - second break in a 30-odd year membership, first over Iraq) but will be happy to donate again to the crowdfunder if it comes to the point of court and needs more cash.

But I won't be voting for any party with self-ID in the manifesto. And I'll actively campaign against any party with self-ID in the manifesto. Spent a lot of time thinking about it and I can't see any other way. Even the damage of five more years of Tory rule could be undone. But the removal of women's rights? That's pretty much forever. It would take a century to get them back.

Labour will never, ever, get my vote.

I have also supported the crowdfunder. Having voted strategically against the Tories all my life, and despite despising austerity & Brexit, I will be voting Conservative in my marginal constituency at the next election, if the Tories keep up their current stance of kicking reform of the GRA into the long grass. Nothing is more important to me politically than women's right to sex-based protections. But I long for a viable Labour party that respects me as a woman. I wish JJ and team every success in their campaign.

Austerity hits women the hardest though The XXFactor, your daughter and your daughter's daughter. Brexit will hit the menfolk more. Thank goodness my son has an EU passport for life by dent of the GFA.

The Tories don't have AWS and it shows!

Well done Jennifer and thank you.