Mary Ann Stephenson confirmed chair of EHRC

[Theswiveleyeballsinthesky]

This is good news 😁

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-confirms-dr-mary-ann-stephenson-as-the-next-ehrc-chair

Excellent news!

It is great news. More proof along with the recent rule confirmations about biology being real inside Labour that gender fanatics have increasingly lost power inside Labour. We are not going to get an apology but everyone can see pandering to them is dumb because firstly it is nonsense and lies and secondly there are not many votes in it in fact it loses votes.

When the guidance drops it is going to be based on reality - then there will be no way out. Big changes across academia and NHS and challenges for Greens SNP and anyone else who doesn't accept reality.

What this affects:

Conversion of therapy - if this bill happens it will probably mention biology is real so rather than entrenching gender ideas it will undermine them.

Welsh Labour - still the most crazy section of Labour with power but I think the clock is ticking.

So lots more to do but progress is happening.

I suspect BP has confidence that she will bring balance to the role and aim to deliver protections where they are needed for all groups.

The challenge is that TRAs regard anyone who regards the protected characteristic of sex as being determined by sex and not gender as transphobic

The thankless task for MS is that no matter how hard she works to ensure rights equality for those with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, TRAs won’t welcome anything that fails to group males with trans identities with women.

The EHRC will need to block out the noise and just get on with what their job.

I think - I hope - Mary-Ann Stephenson will be in a stronger position vis-a-vis the TRA faction in the EHRC than Baroness Falkner has been.

Baroness Falkner also took a hell of a lot of stick in the post. i doubt MS will get any easier a ride. But it does feel like the tide is turning.

Sad times .🤗

Has there been any response from any of the intereview panel, including Helena Kennedy? Maybe they'll just keep their prejudices and their grudges close to their chest for now.

Great news ⭐

I imagine it is extremely convenient for Labour for the EHRC to draw the fire of the TRAs. The govt can neatly pass the buck to the EHRC, positioning it to take those decisions back towards reality without taking responsibility themselves.

This Lib Dem MP Tom Gordon, who is on one of the committees, is moaning about her appointment on twitter.

https://x.com/tomgordonLD/status/1950946778867515616?t=DogNhBKT7xB72ERxk4q15w&s=19

He says:

"Despite concerns from both the JCHR & WEC about leadership, expertise, and ability to rebuild trust, the Government are pushing ahead with appointing Dr Stephenson as EHRC Chair.

We felt we could not endorse the appointment. It is disappointing they have not listened."

Brilliant news! Well done Dr Stephenson!

I have deep concerns about the leadership, expertise and ability to rebuild trust of the Women and Equalities Committee, perhaps he could let me know when those have been addressed?

Excellent news.

The transes on Reddit and BlueHairSky are not happy.

Wierd. Sad times.

Totally disingenuous, of course......we all know the real reason.

I think it is because there is an increasing number of politicians who are finally realising that’s the trans debate is polarised and that there are more votes to be lost than gained.

The TRAs are out with their shouty voices and placards but it is the quiet ones who have become increasingly aware of what has happened to women’s sports / changing rooms / toilets/ single sex services / hospital wards who actually make the effort to vote that count.

And I bet our swivel-eyes MP has something to say about it as well. Forgotten his name but he is very anti women who don’t agree with him.

Great to hear what Chappy McBlokeface thinks of Dr Stephenson and the WEC sitch. Cheers, matey! Thank god we have a man piping up to keep us right!

Yes and I think the re-election of Trump hasn’t hurt either. How the Democrats did not see that coming is beyond me. They have not only nearly destroyed their own party, they have foisted Trump on the American people and are STILL promoting gender ideology. Baffling.

Pete Buttigieg has dared to insinuate that boys should not take part in girls' sports, and the transes are FUMIN!!!

Even the Dems are rowing away from this nonsense. See also Gavin Newsom.

Tim Roca - we haven’t forgotten you 😵‍💫

The more politicians who realise this is a vote loser the better.

I am certainly challenging my MP on women’s rights.

I think this is good, but sadly as much as for putting the WEC in its place.

But was suprised by earlier comments on this thread, that some didn't seem to be aware of MAS.

So for those of us who endured the approval proces (not as much MAS herself) and wants to understand just how far outside of natural justice, professional behaviour, and many other faults, here are the earlier threads!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5349149-government-announces-preferred-candidate-for-ehrc-chair

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5351674-wec-to-question-the-ehrc-chair-and-chief-executive-11-june-2025-220pm

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5365280-per-appointment-hearing-for-new-chair-of-ehrc-this-afternoon

Trans Advocacy and Complaint Collective UK isn't happy (I'd not heard of this group)

TACC Statement: Withdrawal of Recognition of the EHRC as a Human Rights Institution

We no longer recognise the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) as either independent or credible in its statutory role.
The UK Government's decision to proceed with the appointment of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson as Chair of the EHRC despite formal objections from both the Joint Committee on Human Rights and Women and Equalities Committee marks a critical turning point.
These are cross-party parliamentary bodies with statutory remits to safeguard human rights and equality in the UK. Their concerns were clear: Dr Stephenson lacks the necessary leadership experience, breadth of expertise and public trust required to restore the EHRC's legitimacy across all protected characteristics particularly among the most marginalised communities.

Trans communities and our allies condemn this appointment as a deliberate and strategic continuation of the EHRC's transformation into a tool of political control rather than human rights defence. As many organisations, including TACC, have made clear, this decision represents not neutrality, but complicity. It is another calculated move in the state-sanctioned campaign to exclude trans people from public life and to rollback the protections that once existed under UK equalities law.

Effective immediately, we will no longer cooperate with the EHRC. We will not consult with them, we will not participate in their reviews, and we will not treat their outputs as representative of human rights standards. We no longer recognise them as an NHRI.

We urge other civil society organisations, equality bodies, and campaign groups, particularly those working with and for marginalised communities, to join us in withdrawing recognition from the EHRC. Continued engagement risks lending legitimacy to an institution that no longer upholds the values of independence, accountability, or universality that human rights demand. By stepping back, we send a collective message: the erosion of rights and state capture of regulatory bodies cannot be normalised.

Yes I saw that on Reddit, who tf are they anyway?

From that waily-wail TACC statement @Imnobody4 shared,
It is another calculated move in the state-sanctioned campaign to exclude trans people from public life
How? The hyperbole, as ever, is off the scale.