Written statement at 2.30pm today: First Anniversary of the FWS v SM ruling

[Forresty]

Just pointing this out, separate from any threads it may have been mentioned on, so people not involved on those threads can be aware.

Does anyone know where/when it will be published?

Bit more info, from Rosie Duffield:

https://x.com/RosieDuffield1/status/2043977594089963726?s=20

Oh god please don't let it be some almighty fudgey nonsense

The written statement is due at 12.30pm. At 2.30pm there is a Westminster Hall debate (unconnected to the statement).

Written statements are published here:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/#written-statements

There are 9 written statements today. 7 have been published this morning.

The 2 that have yet to be published are on infected blood and the EHRC one.

EHRC have sent new guidance, apparently? Is that what this is about?

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

“Progress is being made towards accurate and up-to-date guidance on the Equality Act 2010 being available to service providers, associations and those exercising public functions.

“The UK government recently provided us with a narrow set of comments on the draft Code of Practice we submitted in September. Having considered this feedback alongside consultation responses and further legal analysis, we have made adjustments where they help the Code provide legally accurate, practical guidance that is useful to duty bearers.

“These aim to strengthen duty bearers’ understanding of the law and how it applies across a range of the scenarios they encounter day-to-day. So that all service users are treated with dignity and respect, in line with the Equality Act.

“Our amended draft services Code of Practice has now been sent for the Secretary of State to approve in advance of it being laid in Parliament.”

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre/news/update-code-practice-services-public-functions-and-associations

Highly likely.

😳

Bookmarking with great trepidation

It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen.

I’m praying that this is good news. 🤞🏻

“Our amended draft services Code of Practice has now been sent for the Secretary of State to approve in advance of it being laid in Parliament.”

So we have progress???

"I've got a bad feeling about this.."

Yep! This has got case by case fudge you like written all over it

Many thanks 👍

Maybe they have been deep in talks with Scottish Labour she says hopefully and super quietly so as to not jinx it

I hope that any changes that changed the intent and meaning of guidance would have been announced, surely by the EHRC.

DEAR GOD NO MORE SEX FUDGE PLEEEEEEASE

Here it is:

Statement

This government has always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. The Supreme Court’s ruling last year brought clarity for women and service providers such as hospitals and refuges, and made clear that protections for trans people remain in the Equality Act.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the independent equality regulator and ensures compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Their Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations covers all nine protected characteristics and the steps service providers should take to comply with the law. We share the EHRC’s commitment to ensuring duty bearers have accurate and up-to-date guidance on the Equality Act 2010 including in the light of the recent Court rulings.

We are grateful to the EHRC for their work on the updated draft Code following engagement and further legal analysis. The EHRC is rightly focussed on ensuring the updated Code is robust, accessible and ensures duty bearers can be confident that it is a clear and accurate explanation of the law.

The government received the updated draft on 13 April. The Code will apply across Great Britain and as we are currently in the pre-election period for the devolved administrations, we are unable to make further announcements on this matter at this time. However, we are taking urgent action to meet our intention of laying the Code in May and as soon as practicable after the election period, for Parliamentary scrutiny.

We are getting it right, showing leadership by implementing the clarity the Supreme Court ruling delivers.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-04-14/hcws1509

I've got a good feeling. FWS is watertight in its analysis of the equality act and how sex must be defined so as to not render it non-sensical. If they are laying the guidelines before parliament (even if slightly revised) then they will be following FWS... surely...

Ha ha ha. They are kicking down the road until after the May elections:

However, we are taking urgent action to meet our intention of laying the Code in May and as soon as practicable after the election period, for Parliamentary scrutiny.

What a massive surprise!! 🙄

Wtf? Is it a secret?

SECRET TIL AFTER THE ELEXTION??

I would not expect that they would allow Scottish Labour to make a manifesto public that did not then fit the EHRC guidance.

Yeah that's a whole lot of nothing isn't it.

This government has always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. The Supreme Court’s ruling last year brought clarity for women and service providers such as hospitals and refuges, and made clear that protections for trans people remain in the Equality Act.

We have always been at wore with Eurasia...