Ask your general election candidates what a woman is: results

[generalelectionfish]

I have decided to ask all major parties in my constituency how they define a woman, particularly with regard to women in sport and prisons.

My constituency (currently, subject to borders changing) is Aylesbury Vale.

Conservative: Rob Butler - no reply. This doesn't surprise me because he's a useless tosser who only ever turns up to stuff being opened and has never answered a single email I have sent.

Labour: Laura Kyrke-Smith - replied! She says, "I define a woman as someone who has female sex at birth or defines herself as a woman.
This piece by Annelise Dodds is a good summary of where Labour stands on trans rights more broadly."

Weasel words in my opinion, but useful to know where she stands. We are a (ugh) Tory safe seat here, but if anyone can challenge it, it would only be Labour.

Anyone else have any assurances or otherwise from their local candidates - and where are you (if you are happy saying)?

I got a reply (less than 12 hours after emailing!) from Liberal Democrat candidate Anja Shaefer. A little more positive, perhaps, but not particularly explicit in terms of definitions - lots of theory without practical examples of what would happen, and lots of telling me what the current situation is (which of course I already know). Here's her reply.

The Liberal Democrats are committed to fighting for both gender equality and equality for all LGBT+ people. We believe in the safety, dignity and wellbeing of every individual.

For most people, their gender matches their physical sex at birth, but there is a relatively small number of people – less than 1% of the population – for whom that is not the case, and I believe we must respect their identities too.
The Equality Act already protects single-sex spaces. It has specific exceptions to allow women’s services to exclude men, and in certain circumstances to exclude trans women as well where that’s necessary. For example, a women’s refuge or a group counselling session for female victims of sexual assault could decide to exclude trans women if necessary for their services to function properly.

These are often very difficult and sensitive decisions for service providers to make. In many cases we’re talking about women – trans or not – who’ve been the victims of sexual assault or domestic abuse at the hands of men. Making sure all women get the support they need, and that they can feel safe, is critically important.

I support my Lib Dem colleagues in calling for clearer guidance for individuals and organisations on how the Equality Act exemptions apply to them – but that doesn’t mean changing the Act itself to remove protections for trans women.
The Equality Act has been working well for over a decade. It protects hard-won women's rights, and there is no case for unpicking it now.
I hope this answers your question.

The question needs to be more specific. Ie Will you repeal the Gender Recognition Act and get rid of the GRC? Will you ensure that no man of whatever identity will be placed in a women’s prison? Or does everyone have the right to ask for same sex carers ? Or why do you think legislation based on how someone feels is a good thing? How can you ensure pregnant women are protected from discrimination at work?

The Liberal Democrats are committed to fighting for both gender equality and equality for all LGBT+ people.

Gender equality. Not sex equality.

Sharron Davies' campaign to do this was announced with a big fanfare last year, but I haven't heard anything about it now the time is here - does anyone have any up to date information?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/23/mps-believe-women-penis-named-trans-election-sharron-davies/

Damnit, the sodding Tories (Greg Smith) have replied. Fucking fuck. I can't vote Tory, but the only unequivocal answer (apart from the changing sex bit... because, you know, actually impossible) so far:

A woman is an adult human female.

I am very clear that women’s rights must be protected, for example maintaining a safe space for biological women’s refuges and places like public toilets. It is totally wrong for biological men identifying as women to be allowed to compete in singe sex sports and this should be stopped.

My conservatism is based on a fundamental belief in freedom, so adults choosing to change sex can be free to do so, but that must not and must never undermine biological women’s rights to safe spaces.

Ah but you could tell them you can't vote Labour and are considering the other candidates...

Depends what your individual priorities are. What could be put right easily after either administration (Labour or Conservative) What would be set in stone. What could you mitigate?(Eg you might be able to fund food banks, go private for health care to remove one person from the system, donate to X,y,or z...) There was talk around Brexit of the "hair on fire" analogy....is women's rights your hair on fire thing or is it something else.

Labour are claiming they will follow the Tory budget so I am not sure what fucking use they would be anyway. Are they going to make enough of a change in your priority thing to make it worth voting for?

(Floating voter...voted several different parties in the past)

Just realised we have two candidates called Greg Smith. One Tory and one Green. That's fun.

What are the chances eh?!

Oh well I'm sure the 2 Gregs will have exactly the same answer to your question.....

I would be surprised. Tory Greg says women are adult human females. I doubt Green Greg would give me the same answer.

But I just can't vote Tory. I can't. I need another option of a non-clusterfuck bunch of self-serving wankers who haven't slowly driven the country into the ground for the last 14 years... but also who know what an actual woman is. Doesn't seem a huge amount to ask.

The hair on fire analogy is a good one. I also like the image of a political party is a bit like a bus rather than a taxi - you get the one going to your closest destination.

Has anyone else asked their local candidates yet?

Labour always win here. I would usually vote for them but for some time have considered spoiling my ballot by writing "Woman = adult human female" on the paper.

Had a quick look on theyworkforyou.com using the search speeches function searching for "gender". Labour candidate is Chi Onwarah. She mentions being contacted by constituents on both sides of the debate (but clearly sounds sympathetic to women's rights) and wants the additional evidence collected as set out in Cass Review and for young people to receive "the healthcare appropriate to them".

(Link)
Hmm. May get my vote after all, although as mentioned doesn't really need it!

Judging by his speeches, mine seems.likely to be a 'be kind'er rather than a true believer.

He does at least ask pertinent questions about which organisations have been contacted in various consultations, specifically referencing women's groups and those representing survivors of various types of abuse. But then wonders what the difference is between Ireland having separate gender recognition rules from England and Scotland doing so.

Once again proving that you never have to wait long before they reveal themselves as Not Very Bright.

What do we think of the Social Democrats? Obviously likely a wasted vote (but we are a Tory safe seat anyway, so may as well waste it somewhere ethical).

https://sdp.org.uk/policies/transgender-and-biological-sex-based-rights/

I'll be voting for the SDP - I was delighted to find they were fielding a candidate in my constituency. I don't agree with everything they propose but I agree with enough of it, and they are at least clear on women's rights.

They've gone some way to the right since I last looked.

And won't be standing here.

Bumping this thread to see if anyone else has had any responses?
I emailed the following to the candidates for the LibDems, Labour, Tories & Greens, couldn't find contact info for Heritage, Reform or Workers Party. Thanks to Sex Matters, as I based my email on their template here

I am a constituent in Chesham & Amersham and am contacting you about an issue that particularly concerns me - the impact of gender ideology on the rights of women and girls - which I have not seen addressed in the campaign literature in this constituency. I hope that by contacting you directly I will find out whether you are prepared to defend women's rights to single-sex spaces which are so vital, especially to the most vulnerable of women and girls.

Whilst there are many important issues in this election, this is an issue that I care passionately about and it will greatly influence how I vote in this election. The issue of single sex spaces is too important for me to vote for a political party that will not protect women's rights in this matter.

Please can you give me clear, brief answers to the following questions:

Do you recognise that there are two sexes, male and female, that these are biologically determined and that the law should recognise that there are situations where this matters?
If elected, will you stand up for single-sex services and sports and that eligibility for these should be based on biological sex alone?
Do you agree that the Equality Act should be made clearer, to provide protection against discrimination based on biological sex?
Will you commit not to lower the requirements for gender transition?
Do you agree that freedom of speech about sex and gender is important and that those engaging in respectful debate on both sides should not suffer harassment or discrimination?
Will you meet with groups and constituents from all sides of these debates if you are elected to Parliament?
Will you support the retention of the 'spousal exit clause', allowing spouses whose partners wish to transition time to exit the marriage before their partner's legal sex is changed?
Do you agree that when gender identity is covered in the school curriculum, that it should not be taught as fact that everyone has a gender identity, but as a belief, and that other opinions on this exist and are equally as valid?
Do you support the banning of cross-sex hormones for minors as recommended by the Cass report?

If any of these are issues you’re not familiar with, you might find these briefings for MPs useful.

Thank you for reading this and I look forward to receiving your response. The issue of upholding women and girls' rights to safety and opportunities in our society is very important to me and knowing where you stand on this will help me decide where to cast my vote.

So far I have had one reply. I can't find a report of the hustings he mentions to see what the gender question was or what the other responses were.

Dear redsplodge,

The answer is yes to those questions. At a hustings yesterday I was the only one who defended biology in the gender debate. All the other candidates completely disagreed with me. If protecting hard won rights for women and girls is important to you then I suggest you let anyone you know who agrees with you know where I stand!

Many thanks
Gareth

Gareth Williams
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chesham and Amersham

I wrote a few weeks ago to my Labour and Tory candidates to ask them about this issue.

Tory reply was supportive of trans people who faced discrimination, but not accepting the belief that they could change sex, and had a focus on protecting women’s spaces, services & sport.

Labour reply was, as I said upthread, disappointing, largely outsourced his thinking to Dodds, and is extremely similar to other posters. More interesting though, my daughter & husband have had letters from the Labour candidate asking for their vote. My letter is conspicuously absent - he’s obviously decided I’m not worth it!

None of the candidate have shown their faces and Labour have not put in any appearance yet.. However we have been canvassed. and asked if we'd vote for tories and lib dems. Rather than asking the lib dem canvasser what a woman was she got a lecture about how there is no way I'd vote for them. Her party were supporting child abuse because children are being encouraged to think they could change sex, to harm their bodies pretending (some harms got mentioned) and her party had actually taken a considerable amount of money from the company promoting puberty blockers. To be fair she said she didnt know, looked shocked and said she'd raise it with the candidate. I was at one stage a member of the Labour party, hoping they come when I'm in.....

Had Labour knocking on the door yesterday. Not the local candidate, but someone on his behalf. Had an interesting chat about women, women's rights and women's space, and the guy I was chatting to seemed to share my opinion (which is exactly the same as the people on here).

He did suggest I email our local candidate, Lee Barron, so I did that yesterday afternoon. No reply as of yet, but I'm sure he's busy knocking on people's doors. I'll be disappointed if I don't get any kind of reply though.

I have also written to my local Lib Dem and labour candidates about their manifestos and how disappointed I am in their policies which will harm women’s rights. No replies from either as yet.

I am attending local hustings this week to ask a question about it. I am nervous. But I feel like I must be brave and do it. I don’t want the parties to get away with ‘no one ever raises this in constituencies’ type rhetoric. I realise I’ll probably get a rubbish answer to my question, but at least they’ll hear that some of their constituents do care about this stuff.

I've just got a leaflet through the door from my Labour wannabee. My constituency is marginal, currently Tory. It's likely to go to the LDs. Anyway I've just emailed the Labour candidate

Dear xxxxxxxx

I never thought I would be in this situation. Even though my constituency has always been a bit of a two horse race between the Tories and the LDs, I've always kept the faith and voted Labour. Even during Corbyn's tenure!

Now I find myself contemplating the previously unthinkable. Obviously I can't vote LD ('Of course a woman can have a penis!') and the Greens are, if anything, worse. I have a letter from xxxxxxxx (my current MP) who's clear on the difference between sex and gender (previously a polite synonym for sex, now apparently means clothes, makeup and hair and is apparently much more real and important than actual immutable biology).

So, although I'm not blind to the many, many failings of the Tories. I still hope to vote for someone I consider to be sane. This is my litmus test. If you, a woman, considers that to be no more than a feeling in a man's head, you don't have my vote. If you, a former educator, are blind to the damage being done to vulnerable children (see the Cass report) you don't have my vote.

Women* and girls make up 50-odd percent of the people in this country. Considering the above, tell me why, as one of them, should I vote for you?

Regards

X Xxxxxxxxx

*none of whom have a penis, perhaps you could let Keir know?

If I get a response I'll update.

I'm also in your area. Tory Greg comes across as a nice chap- he came into work and chatted with us when a government initiative was launched a few months ago.

I got doorstepped by a lib dem canvasser this week...

"Have you any questions for me?
Me- yes, what's the lib dems position on male born people in women's single sex spaces?
"Lots of bland waffle
Me- ok, so what's the party's view?
"...Starts to talk about toilets
Me- I'm not talking about toilets. What about prisons, refuges and rape crisis centres?
Her - bit pale, well the lib dems believe TWAW and so should be where their gender dictates.
Me- well that's unfortunate. You've lost my vote through this issue. Please pass it on that I cannot vote for a party that can't recognise and safeguarde my sex, as a survivor of male violence this is an important issue for me.

I'm hoping I get another one, I didn't manage to collar the labour one outside work the other day but their presence meant we had a quiet day as they were seen and avoided 🤣

Well, no response so far from the labour candidate that I emailed on Monday. I get that he's busy. However, either it's gone into the junk box and not been found (it was a gmail address), has read it and is going to reply but has just got caught up, or is totally ignoring it.

I'm girding myself to contact my labour candidate again as he hasn't replied to my previous two emails 😡. I feel like Wes Streeting gets it and Keir Starmer doesn't. If my labour candidate gets back to me I'll base my vote on what he says, if not it'll be a spoiled ballot paper. There is a Transform candidate who I might contact to see what she says although her website says they are against both homophobia and transphobia so I'm not sure anyone has thought very much about it. No independents. No SDP.