Bridget Phillipson on now before the Wonen & Equalities Committee

[ReturnOfTheReal]

Bridget Phillipson on now before the Wonen and Equalities Committee - started at 14:20.

www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/76dc1ace-4dd3-4d80-9efb-949c6b17f562

Thank you, is this a routine appearance or is she there to talk about something specific?

Thanks for the link, I'm watching it now. I'm fully prepared to experience the usual nonsense from this Committee.

Some carefully selected weasel words to start

'... we have been clear as a government that we will protect single sex spaces based on biological sex where they are needed ...'

Prepared sentence - was going so well up until the end

What is the topic for this committee meeting?

I know she took questions in the House today in relation to the puberty blocker trial

Still pushing for ther misunderstanding of " proportionate means of meeting a legitimate aim"? To make it into a false 'case by case' issue.

If she wants to create more unisex facilities, they do need to be complant, but once a facility is designated 'female only' then that is what it must mean. There is no 'Case by case' in this situation. Proportionality and legitimacy have already been justified.

I'll watch in more detail later, but at present BP is making it clear that 'Sex' must mean biological sex when it comes to the Equality act, and that even possession of a GRC with documents re-written with the new certificated 'Sex' does not over-rule it.

I'm not sure who the elderly female questioner is, but her concern is all for the feelings of those with a GRC.......and an assumption that they will be continually 'outed'. She has clearly not come across many trans identified men.

So we, as women are to, grudgingly, get what we need, whereas trans-identified men, all this time, have been given (illegally) everything they want.

Oh, Bridget, Bridget, you couldn't be a more enthusiastic handmaiden if you were wearing a cape and hood and calling yourself Aunt Lydia. Have some self-respect!

Clarity required on what the poinf of a GRC is?

People were misled that they could access single sex spaces; the SC ruling hasn't changed the law; it has simply clarified the law as it always was.

Looks like a whole load of TRAs have just left the chamber.

To be fair BP is making it clear that the SC ruling and the guidance gives plenty of examples of how the needs of trans identified can be met within the law.

I cannot get over how friendly and nice the committee is being to Phillipson in very stark comparison to the nasty and condescending behaviour they gave to Kemi Badenoch, Kishwer Falkner and Mary-Ann Stephenson when they were before the committee.

BP has made clear that the guidance is required to help organisations comply with the law and the Equality Act - in response to Kim Leadbetter asking about the people who want her to reject the guidance.

To be fair I think BP is not doing a bad job here, and is staying clear about the guidance and also how it can be implemented in meeting everyone's needs.

Yes, they are keeping a lid on it, probably because she is a government minister and their career depends on behaving professionally.

I truly think there should have been disciplinary measures against Sarah Owen and some of the others a couple of weeks ago. It was an appalling show of contempt and total lack of professionalism.I bet they are all trying to get access to Andy Burnham's team as we speak.

This committee really just wants to talk about trans, trans, trans. Women's needs don't seem to concern them.

i thought exactly the same.

And that stupid man suggesting that the government should “draw it all back together” ie change the EA2010 to make TIMs women.

I also thought BP mostly did ok, but obvs as previously said she wasn’t facing the same level of rudeness and hostility as others.

I had to rewatch, as I missed that. Weirdly they leave before the trans bit is finished.

I'm glad to see the committee finally decided to discuss disabilities and other groups protected by the Equality Act. It often feels like trans eats up all the available discussion time when it comes to the EA and the EHRC's role/remit.

Would be interesting to get a word count comparison between woman and trans

They had to report back to the Overlord.

Can’t stand the way they do that.

Oh, this would be a really interesting project. And pretty quick and easy using AI, I would have thought.

TRA Reddit view - spoiler, they’re not happy (when are they) https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/s/fbQEmPEr5q