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Labour MPs rage against trans ruling fall-out

Chris Bryant (Photo: Getty)

Happy Easter Sunday to LGBT+ Labour. Today’s Mail on Sunday splashes on leaked messages from a WhatsApp chat of MPs who all belong to the campaign group. The paper claims that Labour ministers are now plotting to defy the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex. A judgment that not all within Labour seem to agree with…

In the messages, sent on Thursday evening, Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant joined an attack on Baroness Falkner, chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, who earlier that day had said that the ruling – that a woman is defined by biological sex – clearly meant trans women could not use single-sex female facilities or compete in women’s sports.

When Steve Race MP said that Lady Falkner’s words on the Today programme were ‘pretty appalling’, Bryant wrote: ‘Agreeed [sic].’ Bryant’s fellow minister Angela Eagle meanwhile suggested that they should seek a meeting ‘ASAP with [the] relevant Equality Minister’ after Easter recess – a move which prompted hearty agreement on the chat. A meeting without coffee, perhaps…

As Observer writer Sonia Sodha pointed out, Falkner’s comments were merely setting out the correct application of equalities law in the UK. So much for all that Labour pre-election talk about the sanctity of independent bodies…

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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