Bristol council drops charges against GC Women of Wessex

[JoyousAsOtters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6rmypkk80lvo

Looks like some good news in Bristol …. Apologies for dropping a post and run, but allegedly I’m at work ….

Wow, Bristol Council forced to apologies, wow. The Green buffoons must be truly green about that. 😂

I'm so glad to see this. Well done those women! Sadly it's still captured up to the hilt as a city. The charity sector, local council & NHS are all still TWAW

Unreservedly.
I'm not gloating - honest😏- I'm just pleased that the tone of the apology suggests that somebody with knowledge of the literal law, not Stonewall law, sat them down in a room and didn't let them leave until they had grasped just how outrageous and unacceptable their behaviour towards these two women had been.

It suggests that the likes of Bristol Council are beginning to get the message that they are not above the law.

Well done and thank you to Phoebe Beedell and Wendy Stephenson for standing up and not backing down.

Well done to these women! Eventually it will filter through to the idiots that they can’t do this.

Thanks, OP. Well, moving in the right direction, at least!

However: "The council does not maintain, and will not repeat or rely upon, allegations that Dr Beedell or Ms Stephenson acted in a threatening, abusive, disorderly or intimidating manner towards councillors on 4 November 2025."

Um... Bristol Council, you just did!

(I can imagine that this was a bitter pill to swallow for the Council!)

Better news:

The council's Trans Inclusion and Gender Identity Policy, which was at the heart of the dispute, was updated in August 2026 to bring it into line with the Supreme Court ruling when judges unanimously concluded that a woman is defined by biological sex.

I agree. This is a very detailed and unequivocal apology and it literally sounds as if a solicitor was dictating it word by word.

Taking legal advice and actually following is a bit of a novelty for captured organisations. It's to be welcomed even if it came after Bristol council wasted thousands of taxpayers money intimidating and punishing these two women.

Was just coming to post this, brilliant news!

I really hope this makes BCC Councillors buck their ideas up.

What were they charged with, it’s not clear from the article? This looks like a civil case rather than a chargeable offence?

Great to see Bristol being forced to back down, apologise and pay costs! Well done Wendy and Phoebe! What a waste of public money though. The Council were told before their original trans policy was passed it was illegal, misogynistic and would harm the most vulnerable women in Bristol- but ignored everyone who didn't say what trans activists wanted! here's one of the mumsnet threads from a while ago:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4902075-bristol-city-council-trans-inclusion-consultation-results

and a report from the 'Children of Transitioners' group about how women who need abuse support following VAWG have been negatively affected/ excluded from accessing help (and aren't included in the stats or feedback as only women happy with mixed sex groups have been able to access services!):

childrenoftransitioners.org/the-trans-lobby-has-destroyed-provision-for-female-abuse-victims-in-bristol-and-elsewhere-and-will-do-the-same-for-the-victims-bill/

No one was charged with anything, it’s not a criminal case.

Edited to say : I see you’re querying the thread title, which is a fair point. The OP sounds like she was in a hurry

Hi - yes sorry, I didn’t mean to mislead. As is no doubt blindingly obv, I am not a lawyer. Or, apparently, a close reader of the dictionary ….

I was just so pleased to see this pop up on the beeb of all places, although yet again, siloed into ‘local interest’ section, we note. Well done those Women of Wessex - hope you’re breathing huge sighs of relief tonight.

Well done GC women of Wessex. Depressing that local councilors are having to be told that they may not lie about, discriminate against and otherwise inappropriately target women - but such is the power of the misogynists in society - here we are.

Excellent news!

Good. And now there needs to be an end to this fad of performative walking out when somebody says something you disagree with.

It's all very well for individuals in a private capacity, but if somebody has put themself forward as a representative or servant of the public - as a council member, MP or whatever - then they should stay and listen, whether they like what they are hearing or not.

If they don't, they make it very clear that they are only in office to serve particular factional interests. And if they argue that they have to leave because what's being said makes them "feel unsafe", they need either to grow a backbone or leave public office to the adults.

I am one of the coordinators of the Women of Wessex and I am just popping in to say that Wendy and Phoebe are two of the most sensible and measured women I know. Bristol Council treated them appallingly throughout but they maintained their dignity, stood their ground, and today they have been vindicated. They did this on behalf of women everywhere. I hope this serves as an object lesson to all councillors who think they can completely ignore the Supreme Court ruling in pursuit of an ideology that is causing demonstrable harm to women and girls.

Pass on my thanks to them, I'm grateful for the stand they took and the fight back they've justifiably won. 👏

Oh yay @LilyCravenplease also pass on my grateful thanks, I live close enough for Bristol to be one of my go to cities

Saw this on the BBC site earlier. Clearly once again, someone legal has had a word. But there's councils like Bristol all over the country.

yes the trans policy from Bristol City Council didn't just affect bristol residents @JoyousAsOtters eg the abuse support services are shared with North Somerset and South Gloucs councils/ residents, joint funded and with Avon and Somerset police (commissioner?) joint funding too sometimes (eg rape support). And it's fair to say the councils who have been a problem eg removing female only abuse support and other spaces have not just been Bristol- North Somerset etc have similar contempt for women in some areas

And of course many people from the area have to go into Bristol for hospitals, theatres etc so the lack of single sex spaces affects a lot more people than might be expected.

Any charity seeing advice from the umbrella body there is getting inaccurate information

https://voscur.org/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/

Huge win. Massive implications for all the other anti women councils out there trying to to pretend women don't exist.

Big impact for the Green party going forward too. Clock is ticking on the other court cases the Greens are facing.

This is the actual statement from the Council, not sure if already posted.

news.bristol.gov.uk/press-releases/72d0533a-d709-4efb-bd9a-c894423a0a66/a-statement-from-bristol-city-council

It doesn't appear to be a total win as Wendy Stephenson has from what I read here not been reinstated to her place on the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Ms Stephenson’s removal from the Independent Remuneration Panel did not constitute or follow from an adverse finding about her integrity, objectivity, ability to comply with public standards or suitability for future civic roles.

I’d think it quitelikely that Wendy Stephenson would not have wanted to return to that role.

Also not sure how the practicalities would work if there is a new Chair in post. How would the council get rid of them?!

Perhaps that panel needs to be dealt with separately, it might be a more legal matter if you remove someone without good cause it could constitute malfeasance by public officials.

When responding to a manifestation of a protected belief, the Council will act lawfully and proportionately, taking into account the need to protect the rights and freedoms of all involved.”

I consider that to be very important, that could stop the Green drama llama's in their tracks, no more dictatorship from them.