So it seems likely the EHRC guidance will be issued tomorrow Thursday 21st May …

[RhannionKPSS]

That is if The Human Paperweight that is Philipson can make her mind up. What should we expect?

The written statement will be available here, it usually updates after business closes for the day: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/#written-statements

What is there to report? The written statement is not available yet. I'm sure they will once it is published.

Does anyone know if the guidance will be included here for us to read? Or will we have to wait until the 40 days are over?

I'm not sure what you mean. It's a written statement to the house and therefore a matter of public record like any other written statement. The commons does not conduct business in secret. You can pick up a copy from the Vote Office if you are in London or wait for it to be published on the site I posted - usually by the end of business as I said.

The guidance itself isn't the statement, is it?

So the written statement will be/include the guidance?

what time is it happening, where can we watch, can we read the guidance?

Sorry just catching up.

Thank you, that's reassuring.

So, when will we know if that guidance has actually be "laid"? Or, if it has been delayed again?

My concern is activist MPs stringing out the earlier bits of days business so there's no time for this to be done.

see above, but it can't happen it's not like that luckily

They'll publish it on the "Votes and Proceedings" bit of the Parliament website at the end of the sitting day. The House rises at 5:30, so it'll be shortly after that.

Ooh, anyone near WM? Can you pop in and get one?!

Here? I can't see it listed, although there are several for today.

commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/

I predict a piss protest. Maybe some moob flashing.

Nothing says 'I'm a lady' like pissing everywhere and a bit of indecent exposure.

Someone needs to check under the chickens.

And chalk some dicks on the pavement and smash a few windows for good measure.

Yes, but what you've got at the moment is stuff that's up for discussion. I would expect the guidance to appear at the end of the day.

Bunging it out at the end of the day just before recess would be typical.

The thing I'm not sure about is the 40 day window for members to challenge the guidance - I assume that's 40 sitting days of the House, so that could take us well into September.

@OpheliaWitchoftheWoods I'm not sure why you say that. How would you expect it to be released? A written statement is perfectly proper for this sort of thing.

actually it's not sitting days

So - if no shenanigans - the 40 days of being laid ends on 9th or 10th July. In force date is different.Think they have to pick one....

I had to get Chat GPT to work it out for me, so pinch of salt, but I think the logic is right:

Assuming it was laid today, Thursday 21 May 2026, the 40-day parliamentary period should expire around:
Thursday 9 July 2026
or possibly Friday 10 July 2026 if the counting starts the day after laying.
But the important point is: it does not automatically come into force at midnight on day 40.
Under section 14 of the Equality Act 2006, if neither House passes a resolution disapproving the draft within the 40-day period, the EHRC may issue the code, and it then comes into force on the date set by the Secretary of State by order.

The EHRC also says that after Parliament’s 40-day review, if Parliament does not disapprove it, the government will set a date for it to come into force, and the EHRC will then publish it.

Why not simply 30 June?
Because Parliament rises for Whitsun recess on Thursday 21 May 2026 and returns on Monday 1 June 2026. The 40-day calculation excludes periods when both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

So, in practical terms:
Laid: Thursday 21 May 2026
Whitsun recess pause: Friday 22 May to Sunday 31 May
40-day window likely ends: Thursday 9 or Friday 10 July 2026
Comes into force: only once the Secretary of State makes the commencement order, likely shortly after if there is no successful motion to reject.
So the clean answer is:
It should be capable of coming into force from around 9/10 July 2026, but only once the Secretary of State formally brings it into force by order.

Can we celebrate when it happens do you think, or will that earn a rebuke for unseemly behaviour?

Actually, I was thinking more about the rather more coarse meaning of "laid" not sure what that says about me but yes. Chickens too 🤣