EHRC have suubmitted updated Code of Practice to Phillipson

[Forresty]

Stuff seems to be happening:

On 4 September 2025 the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) submitted a draft update of its Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations to the Minister for Women and Equalities.

The EHRC recently received feedback on the updated Code from the UK government.

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

What have they changed, I wonder.

Surely it will/should be published by EHRC at this point?

No. Not yet by possibly a long chalk:

“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.”

The fact that it hasn't makes me more than a bit concerned..

But we've been able to read the current unapproved one I think?

This seems very good news dependent upon what the guidance says. Because movement is essential and a log jam is what we have had up until now.

Lets try and get the guidance published - though the last publication was I believe unprecedented so let's not expect it to happen here

(always a good insight to see comments from other perspectives...https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1sl4ghh/ehrc_has_sent_a_revised_code_to_the_equalities/ )

It still seems odd that you need to have "guidance" of obeying the law. Unless the guidance can override the law ?

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

Statement made by

Bridget Phillipson

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.

"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"

Delayed long enough for purdah to apply, wonder what the excuse will be after that

Missing comma identified?

What needs to be " scrutinised"?

I note it didn't specify which May; I don't have local elections this year. Maybe she's going to wait until after the next GE and make it someone else's problem.

Massive hmmm face from me.

We shall see.

It's a Code of Practice in how to implement the law. Nothing changes the law itself.

Guidance is what the EHRC came out with soon after the judgement. That was then unpublished.

The CoP is to help companies and organisations to implement the law. And to help lawyers advise them.

There was a bit of a leak to The Times, but nobody has seen the unlaid CoP yet.

But unless I am being spectacularly dim, is the implication that you cannot enforce a law without "guidance" ? Isn't that rather what the courts are supposed to do ?

E2A: so if a company follows this "guidance", it can't be taken to court and there will be no point trying ?

I could understand if having guidance meant no court cases. But since I doubt it does, all it seems to have done is muddy the waters. Leaving simple folk like me less clear than before. So effectively it's hard to believe it's by accident.

The law must be followed regardless of guidance. The guidance is to help you follow the law. If the guidance ever conflicts with the law then the law takes precedence over anything the guidance says.

Times article

The Times on this - seems to suggest v little change.

With luck she won't be an MP after the next election. I don't think voters will stomach candidates who will dump on women like that. Super clear that, 'whatever we do, we mustn't upset the sacred caste' is the watchword.

Phillipson got her answer in the failed high court GLP ruling which was chucked out.

the judge referred to her legal representations as incoherent and difficult to follow.

the woman talks out of both sides of her mouth.

So think it will be fine, she will be able to defend herself now and feel she can protect her ambitions. Lol

Sadly we will see a bunch of so-called feminists in denial once again telling us once again that they are bound to do the right thing if reelected despite all evidence to the contrary….

So where is my guidance on not stealing or killing ?

As I stated in the first sentence - The law must be followed regardless of guidance.. That includes there being no guidance.

So we return to my original dim confusion;

What this guidance in the first place ?