"Defending Women’s Privacy, Dignity, and Safety Across Bassetlaw" Proposed Reform motion at Bassetlaw Council

[SingleSexSpacesInSchools]

Why do we have to wait for Reform to make this proposal? It's very well written, and hits every beat that I'd want it to. What is there in this statement any right minded person could disagree with?

It's scheduled to be considered at the Bassetlaw District Council’s Extraordinary Meeting on 3 February 2026.

There is a 38 degrees petition to reject it...

“Defending Women’s Privacy, Dignity, and Safety Across Bassetlaw

Bassetlaw District Council notes:

1 That the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the legal authority of single-sex spaces under the Equality Act 2010, recognising sex as a biological fact, not a subjective or fluid concept.

2 That women and girls—because of their biological sex—face unique vulnerabilities, and risks, that necessitate protected female-only spaces.

3 That countless women rely on single-sex provision for their personal safety, privacy, dignity, trauma
recovery, and ability to participate fully in public life
without fear.

4 That services such as domestic abuse refuges, changing rooms, toilets, health services, and intimate-care settings depend on clear safeguarding rooted in biological sex.

Bassetlaw District Council believes:

1 That women and girls have the right to safety, dignity, and privacy based on their sex, a right grounded in both law and lived experience.

2 That recognising biological sex is not discriminatory—it is a safeguarding necessity, especially for survivors of male violence, trauma, or exploitation.

3 That women should never be made to apologise for needing female-only spaces, nor should their legitimate concerns be dismissed as prejudice.

4 That Bassetlaw District Council must show leadership by protecting women’s rights with clarity, compassion, and courage.

Bassetlaw District Council resolves:

1 To fully implement the Supreme Court ruling across all Bassetlaw District Council buildings, services, policies, and commissioned activities, ensuring that female-only spaces are reserved for biological females.

2 To undertake a review of all policies to ensure that any provision involving safety, privacy, or intimate care properly recognises biological sex as the determining factor.

3 To provide clear written guidance for staff, service users, and the public detailing how single-sex spaces will be protected and why they matter for the wellbeing of women and girls.

4 To ensure all staff receive training on the legal definition of sex, the lawful basis for single-sex provision, and the gender-based violence realities faced by women.

6 To reaffirm the Council’s commitment to women’s rights as foundational—not optional—and to the principle that upholding female-only spaces is an act
of protection, not exclusion.

7 That any cost implications be met by the current years under spend.

This Council makes a profound and unequivocal statement:

That women and girls, as a sex class, deserve to feel safe.
That their biology matters.
That their dignity matters.
And that in Bassetlaw, their rights will not be diluted, ignored,
or negotiated away”

Link to document https://bassetlaw.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g1073/Agenda%20frontsheet%2004th-Dec-2025%2018.30%20Council.pdf?T=0

32 degrees petition
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/open-letter-to-the-bassetlaw-district-council-in-defence-of-trans-residents

Should be one in favour of the motion :)

TIM is also sad. https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1qf846l/reformukaretryingtointroducebathroombans/

Reform are not friends of women. Do not fall for that rhetoric

What part of this motion do you not think supports females? And, why are no other parties making these motions?

Given you posted a reply within 45 seconds of me pressing the submit button, did you read all the links properly, or just throw out a knee jerk "reform bad" comment?

Only this week they opposed the Grok proposals to ban AI undressing women and children , and opposed the child benefit cap removal
If Reform is your answer I'm damn sure I don't know what your question is

You appear to be shooting the messenger @Maddy70

What parts of the proposal do you disagree with?

If you bothered to read the OP the first sentence asks why it's Reform making this proposal - a question I'd second.
Do you think this government would issue a statement like this? If not, why not?

Is this just some sort of purity spiral from Maddy, this is bad because reform are bad.

I think it's an excellent proposal and the response shows why its very very needed.

"I don't know what your question is"

In this scenario - which major political parties are willing to go on record to say that women's rights are important and should be respected.

"they opposed the Grok proposals to ban AI undressing women and children"

Thats a lie. In fact Nigel Farage publicly described the Grok undressing issue as "horrible in every way" and said X "needs to go further" in addressing it. Just the other day.

"and opposed the child benefit cap removal"

I oppose the benefit cap removal. A large majority of the UK opposes the benefit cap removal in fact.

you do you though.

I'd love to know what problem you have with the councils motion specifically, as thats what I was here to discuss.

I largely agree with the proposal but it's wolf in sheep's clothing if you believe that Reform are on women's sides.

I agree OP this is an excellent proposal.

Of course it does not follow that everything Reform does is excellent, as with every other political party there are good things and bad things.

Again, if you think it's generally OK, I ask you - do you think you'd see Labour, the Lib Dums, Greens etc ever issuing such a woman centred piece? And if not, why not?

It’s a good notice of motion.

It should be coming from - or being seconded by - one of the main political parties or an independent member of the council.

Sadly, it isn’t.

I don't actually care that reform are wolf in sheep's clothing because all political parties are. No parties prioritize women, all parties are run majorly by men for men because women are not equal.

Labour, Lib Dems and Greens are wolves in wolves' clothing. Their hatred of women is on show for all to see

Oh that redit thread is hilarious they seem to think that if the motion passed they'll have an easier route to the EtHRC and that we will realise what a huge mistake we've made because so many pass 🤣🤣🤣🤣
When in reality they will still have the exact same path to crt and the same burden of proof as before and still run up against the duel road blocks of women having rights and the limits on article 8 rights.
Also none of them pass in real life

That question is: who has proposed an important motion in Bassetlaw that deserves support.

Often the left say things like: “noone is free until everyone is free”. Too often that seems to mean: “block good moves if they show people I’ve decided are bad people in a good light”.

I could not read the full petition - just the opening statement has me grinding my teeth in frustration at how badly they understand the law, and that the petitioners are determined to continue making it a conflict rather than working out how women, girls and trans people can be treated with dignity!

Local councillors quite often adopt contrary positions to the Westminster parties, and actually affect our day to day life more than posturing MPs (e.g. Bristol Greens, Southwark Council leisure centres) so it's great to see a council taking local action on this. So it's disappointing if no other councillors can support it @TheAutumnCrow and overcome ideological opposition to working with Reform. Politics is too polarised.

That is a truly excellent proposal OP.

To the posters who fruitlessly post 'Reform are no friend to women' etc... How is that any different to any of our political parties? Can you name one who do value women? Because at the moment, I can't. This proposal would certainly encourage me to vote Reform (although I currently prefer the Conservatives). Kemi is certainly moving in the right direction for women's rights.

It's a great motion, and I'm struggling to see anything in it that I wouldn't wholeheartedly agree with.

I wouldn't vote for Reform, but I'm ashamed that such common sense isn't coming out of the Labour Party on this issue. Thirty years ago it absolutely would have done.

They aren’t a wolf in sheep’s clothing though, are they? They’ve made their positions pretty clear and you can support or oppose them.

I oppose a lot of Reform’s positions and also worry about their competence.

But the wolves in sheep’s clothing (almost literally on the trans issue) have been the mainstream parties, especially the left ones, who obfuscate with terms like “all women” (meaning: men and women), “human rights” (special privileges), “protect [from transphobia]” (shield from scrutiny), “follow the science” (follow the fashion). They are the false friends of women. Reform you can make your own mind up.

Every council, of every party, which FAILS to copy, paste, and enact this Bassetlaw resolution is a council publicly exposing their hatred of women, and their contempt for women's safety and legal rights.

Nobody can change sex therefore there is no such thing as trans. The Supreme Court confirms no men should ever be in women- only spaces.

They all seem to come out with the problem is cisgender men. Considering any cisgender man can claim to be a TW at any point, how do they square that circle?

Bassetlaw Labour councillors could demonstrate that they are friends of women, and also cut the ground from under Reform’s feet, by supporting this motion.

That was my first thought when I read it, it's so good it should be used as a standard for every council in the land.

I might nick it and send it to the councillors in my ward and ask them why aren't you this good, because of course, my councillors are all labour.

So this has always puzzled me about trans males who claim they pass...

If they genuinely pass as women, then no-one will know they are actually male. They can go ahead and use the women's facilities and no one will complain, because no-one will notice. It follows that there is no problem for them after all. Right?

The only word in that I can disagree with is 'gender' in 'gender based violence' - there is no such thing. Sex based and various phobics based, yes.

Yes. I hope to see many more such documents becoming widespread.

A one off gesture or speech from any party at this point is going to be met by deep cynicism by anyone who's been listening in the past few years - we have the Tories who sometimes make helpful noises but do sod all, we have Labour, who sometimes reluctantly say something mildly sensible when they don't see a way out of it but two minutes later are found in court trying to achieve the polar opposite and can be trusted about half as far as the end of your nose... none of them are friends to women or anyone I'd want to vote for, but that doesn't make this action of no use.

I'll take actions, actual Doing Stuff, over waffling vaguely with zombied buzzphrases any bloody day.