I’m grateful to everyone who has shared their views with me following the Supreme Court’s ruling in April regarding biological sex. Following the ruling, I asked people to get in touch with me to share their thoughts. Over recent months I’ve met with individuals and organisations who have shared their concerns with me directly. I’ve listened carefully and written to the Equalities Minister to raise these issues. I have now received a response from the Minister, who made a number of key commitments:

• A reaffirmation that the Equality Act protects everyone—including trans people—from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in the workplace and wider society.
• A clear commitment to ensuring trans people are treated with dignity and respect.
• Confirmation that the Government is proceeding with its manifesto pledge to deliver a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
• Plans to equalise all existing strands of hate crime, so that crimes motivated by sexual orientation, disability, and transgender identity are treated as aggravated offences.
• Ongoing work to improve adult gender identity services, ensuring that all trans people receive the high-quality care they deserve.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), an independent body, has consulted on a revised code of practice to help service providers and public bodies understand their duties under the Equality Act. With over 50,000 responses submitted, I believe it is essential that the EHRC listens to a wide range of voices and carefully considers the impact of any changes. Ministers will review the EHRC’s updated draft in full, including its equality implications, and Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise it thoroughly.

While the EHRC’s interim update offers some insight into how the ruling may be applied, it is not official guidance and should not be treated as comprehensive.

My views on LGBT+ matters have not changed, and I have consistently fed in the views of people I represent to the Government. I hope the final guidance will be fair, equitable, and helpful. Moving forward, we must ensure that trans voices are heard and included in our national conversation. I remain committed to building a fairer, more inclusive society and to standing up for marginalised communities.

I will be reviewing the final version carefully once it is published and will take a view on how it works across the public sector and wider society.

I will also be engaging further with people who are affected. I want Plymouth to be a welcoming city for everyone regardless of sex, gender, sexuality or background, and I hope that the EHRC guidance can provide some certainty, dignity and reinforce equality when it is published in due course.