Delay to EHRC updated guidance following Supreme Court ruling on definition of sex

[IwantToRetire]

Equalities watchdog guidance delayed until later in year

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has previously noted the ‘obvious’ demand for ‘authoritative guidance’ for providers.

Guidance from Britain’s equalities watchdog including on trans peoples’ use of certain spaces is likely to be delayed until later this year.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it received more than 50,000 responses to its code of practice consultation.

The commission had been expected to present final guidance to women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson by the time Parliament broke up for summer next week.

But in an update on Tuesday, the regulator said it was continuing to review the thousands of responses and would be amending its draft code over the summer.

In an update on its website, the commission said: “We received over 50,000 responses to our code of practice consultation.

“We are working at pace to review these and will use our findings to amend the draft code of practice over the summer. Keep checking this page for further updates.”

Continues at https://www.expressandstar.com/uk-news/2025/07/15/equalities-watchdog-guidance-delayed-until-later-in-year/

(based on a PA press release)

I cant find this on the EHRC web site.

But at this rate it looks like the WEC might get what they want, ie a new Chair at the EHRC who will help "form" the guidance in line with their views.

50,000 responses?

Blimey.

Presumably about 100 saying the Supreme Court was right, crack on, and the 49,900 saying #be kind and we're speshul. Sigh.

I think they've just made the assumption that the EHRC amending the guidance over the summer means that it will be impossible to put it before parliament before the summer recess.

They can't change the law as confirmed by the SC. All they can do is make sure the guidance clarifies in any respects people are saying they find unclear, or are showing they found unclear by misinterpreting in their consultation responses.

I wonder how much AI gets used in synthesising such a huge number of responses these days. Should at the very least help filter out copy-pastes.

Are you trying to wind up the fragrant JoMo thirdfidel? 🤣

The GLP paid for a legal firm to send another pointless letter to the EHRC. The latest included a question/ warning about using AI to process the responses to the consultation. The EHRC’s legal team responded by saying this was not of concern to them. JoMo seemed to feign indignation about this reply, but I think he is just going through the motions, trying to be bothersome to the EHRC and to spaff the money that he has already taken his cut from so he can fund raise again and take another cut.

I think even the way this is being reported by the papers on what seems to be a press release via PA is slanted to be part of the slur campaign against the EHRC. or rather Baroness Falkner.

Look out for whiny complaints over the summer about how hard it is from trans identified to cope with being left in limbo.

I think the EHRC said they were going to recruit a load of temporary staff to deal with processing the consultation returns. Can you imagine, you have just left university and you cop a low-grade Admin job at the EHRC for the summer.

All your mates are down the beach and you are stuck in a dusty office spending all day reading mad ravings about "genital inspectors" and "toilet police" sticking their hands down people's pants?

You'd be thinking, "Is this what my life is going to be now? Is this what being a grown-up means?".

I hope they have got a good Occ Health and Staff Counselling Service at the EHRC.

Are you trying to wind up the fragrant JoMo thirdfidel?

Lol, no, hadn't seen that. Indeed none of their concern. Perhaps he's hoping they'll have the new director read them aloud one at a time till they retire gibbering and let a TRA take over?

Can you imagine, you have just left university and you cop a low-grade Admin job at the EHRC for the summer.
Now you're worrying me, I think I'd rather have the AI. Less chance of bias than a bunch of self selecting student types.

Core point. The law cannot change. So there is no chance - one earth - that the guidance will say "let trans women into the womens toilets". None.

I do wonder when we will get the guidance though, this slows a lot of things down

There was a consultation about AI and copyright which attracted about 11,000 responses. I suspect the government has used AI to sort them into categories, find common themes etc so am sure the EHRC can do so as well.

Can you imagine, you have just left university and you cop a low-grade Admin job at the EHRC for the summer

I don't think low grade admin exists anymore. It can all be done by AI, allegedly.

But not one is really interested in the subject and it's a niche issue affecting a tiny minority of people.

Apart from the 50000 people who didn't get that memo.

Any update on this and whether it has been sent to Bridget Phillipson yet? Are there likely to be many tantrums from MPs and will this have any impact as the law is the law, as much as some of them won't like it?

From Clive Lewis on X who doesn't seem to have understood the judgement 🙄

"I’m deeply concerned that significant changes to trans people’s rights could be approved without MPs or the public seeing the details first. This lack of transparency risks reducing accountability on issues that affect lives and freedoms. These proposals must be open to proper scrutiny before any approval. Everyone deserves to know what is being decided in their name".

Rumours are it should be sent this week

This says it all about challenges to it.

Oh dear

I do hope it's before the MPs go back....

Where is their bundle?

Who is the guy in legal dress? I recognise all the others.

Bottom right is a non binary barrister Oscar Davies of Garden Court Chambers

As if Garden Court hadn’t beclowned themselves enough in the Bailey tribunal.

Thanks @spannasaurus

For your edification:

https://www.facebook.com/pinknews/videos/uks-first-recognised-non-binary-barrister-/2341680832892972/