Mermaids vs LGB Alliance and Charity Commissioner - First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) Thread 4

[nauticant]

UPDATE: a transcript of the proceedings has been published and can be found here: lgballiance.org.uk/tribunal-transcript/

The Tribunal started on 9 September, witness testimony was heard from 12 to 15 September, and then, following a break, closing submissions are taking place on 7 and 8 November.

[This paragraph is probaby now redundant] To obtain access to view the proceedings, send a request email to [email protected] about case CA/2021/0013 - Mermaids vs Charity Commissioner and LGB Alliance and ask for permission to join. You then have to provide certain information and agree to a judge's direction in order to be able to join.

There is also live tweeting from www.twitter.com/tribunaltweets

Abbreviations:

J or judge: Presiding Judge, Judge Lynn Griffin
AJ or Judge: Assisted by Judge Joe Neville
MG: Mermaids counsel is Michael Gibbon KC
KM: LGB Alliance counsel is Karon Monaghan KC
AR: Karon is assisted by Akua Reindorf
IS: Charity Commission counsel is Iain Steele

(Also the witnesses, PR: Paul Roberts, JN: John Nicolson. BB: Belinda Bell, BJ: Beverley Jackson, KH: Kate Harris, and EG: Eileen Gallagher.)

Thread 1: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4629679-mermaids-versus-lgb-alliance-in-court-today
Thread 2: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4632780-mermaids-vs-lgb-alliance-and-charity-commissioner-first-tier-tribunal-general-regulatory-chameber-thread-2
Thread 3: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4633653-mermaids-vs-lgb-alliance-and-charity-commissioner-first-tier-tribunal-general-regulatory-chamber-thread-3?page=31&reply=121335177
Thread 4: ongoing

Witnesses for the applicant (Mermaids):

Paul Roberts - CEO of LGBT Consortium (12 September)
John Nicolson MP - Deputy Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT+ Rights (13 September)
Dr Belinda Bell - Chair of trustees of Mermaids (13 September)

Witnesses for the respondent (LGB Alliance):

Beverley Jackson - Co-founder and trustee of LGB Alliance (13-14 September)
Kate Harris - Co-founder and trustee of LGB Alliance (14-15 September)
Eileen Gallagher OBE - Chair of trustees of LGB Alliance (15 September)

Witness Statements:

Paul Roberts: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Paul-Roberts-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
John Nicolson MP - www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/John-Nicolson-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
Dr Belinda Bell: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Belinda-Bell-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
Beverley Jackson: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bev-Jackson-Witness-Statement-Exhibits-1.pdf
Kate Harris: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Kate-Harris-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
Eileen Gallagher (two statements): www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Eileen-Gallagher-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Eileen-Gallagher-Second-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf

Submissions:

www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Volume-4-Submissions-CA.2021.0013.pdf

(Header format follows the gold standard established by @ickky)

post updated by MNHQ at OP's request in order to include the most up to date information.

What time does is start tomorrow?

I wasn't able to watch until after the lunch break. That first 30 minutes or so I had no idea what was being talked about or what kind of point Mr Gibbon was trying to make. I could barely keep my eyes open but blamed myself for lack of legal knowledge. I even wondered if I was in the wrong tribunal.

Then up rocks Mr charity commission and all was illuminated! Got every point and understood the whole structure of his arguments. And was grateful to him for explaining much of the word salad that had come before him.

I can only assume bamboozlement was the best argument Mr Gibbon could muster.

Ha that's brilliant! I love Robbie's Spaces, he's such a warm, fair and articulates host. He's going to do one the evening of the judgement. With champagne!

I can only picture Mr Gibbons as Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, leather jacket, sunglasses and loooong white beard. Don't correct me, I know I'm probably wrong. I don't care.

10 tomorrow. Karon was confident she'd be done by lunch so the judge is happy they don't need to start early.

@unwashedanddazed it must be pretty depressing to have to argue that sex isn’t immutable because some legislation muddles it up with gender. Perhaps he’s the life & soul when he’s got a decent argument to make?

The CC counsel was brilliant because because the basis for his presentation was based upon legal due process, case law and facts - no fanning about with half truths, dubious social constructs uncritical ideology. I expect KM for LGBA will be likewise succinct and consistent.

Mermaids report on Day 6: mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/mermaids-appeal-against-the-lgb-alliances-charity-status-day-6/

Mr Steele made submissions on the relevant law

oh, he most certainly did!

Morning all. Just checking in ahead of kick-off at 10am.

I do hope we’ll be allowed into the hearing more promptly than yesterday. Going to get a brew ready just in case I’m hanging around again

Hi all, I shall be popping in and out of this thread this morning, as always super grateful to everyone for keeping us updated.

Good morning - thanks for the updates

I'm in. Not started yet.

Good morning.

Less than 30 waiting in the lobby. Getting in quite quickly.

Audio and visuals on, proceedings yet to start, over 40 in the lobby.

I'm in the lobby. Glad it hasn't started yet.

I'm in!

Morning all

Looks like it's going to be busier today. Lots more arriving online.

Woohoo I'm in, I waited about an hour yesterday.

I was probably the little mug who was still in the lobby at 16:00 yesterday...

Just been chucked out! Sigh

No Akua Reindorf today?

Thanks btw to everyone who is able to provide the running commentary for those who for one reason or another aren't watching live - it's very useful and entertaining!

I'm hoping that KM is fully able to spell out the MM madness today while making LGBA's case.

And yes - bundlejuice. Inspired.

I've been waiting for the conference host to join since 9.37am. Still waiting.