Labour councillor quits in row over facilities for trans people - The Times

[ReappearingWoman]

Anne Sinnot, Labour councillor (Cambridge) has resigned.

"Ann Sinnott stood down from Cambridge council claiming that the authority was treating women with contempt and was acting in “dereliction of the law”. She said a policy that resulted in single-sex facilities, such as toilets or changing rooms, being “abolished at a stroke” was undermining women’s rights and was a breach of the equality act."

I don't have a clicky link or share token. Hopefully someone else will add?

Have emailed Derbyshire County Council multiple times about claiming gender is a protected characteristic on their website. Not ever had the courtesy of a reply. If you feel like joining me emailing them, please do.

Ann! Thank you so much for taking a stand for women

You are an incredibly brave and principled woman.

Can I ask, do you have plans to continue to fight this?

See my comment elsewhere - in Cambridge it is far more than using incorrect terms for ES2010 protected characteristics.

LemonJello. Fight continues.

Mmm I get that Ann, but still worth fighting all the same. It's the beginning of a slippery slope.

I’m so glad to hear that. We are all behind you.

Well done Ann
(from Australia)
it's wine o'clock here.

Transgender people will not be excluded from gender-appropriate single sex/single sex segregated facilities operated by the council

I am still that Cambridge inserted this into their equality policy. I know it was pushed by an individual with an agenda, but still!

Tanith. Councils nor Parties 'put' people in. Parties select candidates but it's the electorate who vote and put people into office.

Bespin That was an error by the journalist/subeditor. The numbers relate to only those with GRC, not 'Transgender'.

"Ms Sinnott said that based on national figures there were between four and 37 transgender people in the city."

Bespin made an important point then in their comment (page 1):

"she does not know Cambridge that well then does she, there are a lot of transgendered people there far more than the national average. also int that where our secret HQ is based lol" though not perhaps the one intended?

Coffee here!

All the for Ann! So good to see you here. Thanks for everything.

AnnMSinnott
Was Cambridge one of the first councils to replace 'sex' with gender/ gender identity in their Diversity & Equality policy?

Enjoy your coffee Ann, Treat yourself to a biscuit too !

Hello Jacky!

Sorry pressed post too soon!
Thank you Ann for all you have done and are doing.

Battles are often long in the fighting.

Hi Ann

Thank you so much for saying "no" and welcome!

Thank you Ann

Good to see you here Ann and thank you for making a public stand. If there were more like you in the Labour Party then maybe I wouldn't be thrashing around over who to vote for.

Good to see you on here!

In Cambridge, there was an actual amendment to existing Equality policy, which plunged the council into inequality:

If you’re able to say, may I ask who brought this to the table and pushed it through?

Well done Ann. Thank you.

Thanks for all your appreciative comments - you inspire me!

Have added posts to correct misconceptions, but then a look at other pages told me what I should have known [this IS Mumsnet!] - that there are well informed women here.

Don't worry about misspelling my name, happens all the time - for the record though: Ann Sinnott

In regard to resigning, comes down to what you can tolerate. I didn't want to do it but in all conscience I had no choice. Being a councillor is damned hard work but public service is built into my DNA, so I found it immensely rewarding. I was proud to be part of Labour-run Cambridge Council, proud of the work, proud of the achievements, including my own work on Domestic Violence Abuse, and proud of my fellow Cllrs. All that work will continue, my departure alters nothing on that front.

Someone asked why not stay as an Independent. I didn't do this to betray my former Labour colleagues, crossing the floor - whether to the opposition or to the independent benches - would have been just that.

Besides, none of this was about me. I didn't want to retain a position. And, as several noted, I am now free to speak.

I spent months calling for a debate which we didn't get. But now we have two important consultations - PLEASE take part. This a one-off chance to get the Laws we want, laws that will find a way through the quagmire that we are all in.

www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/news-parliament-2017/enforcing-the-equality-act-launch-17-19/

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act-2004

Thanks again for the lovely comments!

If you’re able to say, may I ask who brought this to the table and pushed it through?

I believe it was Sarah Brown

Thanks itsall

And Ann thank you again for your dedication and integrity.