
Neil Hall/EPE-EFE/Ian Forsyth/Getty Images/Hollie Adams/PA
With the General Election less than 48 hours away, the LGBTQ+ Law Clinic takes a look at the main parties in England and Wales and asks: what are they saying about trans rights?
Vote wisely, vote trans.
LABOUR PARTY
Keir Starmer has said that he supports banning trans women from using female hospital wards.
[Source: Keir Starmer interview on ITV, 30 April 2024]
Labour fully backs the Cass Review and will implement it in full.
[Source: Labour Party manifesto]
Labour has said it wants to “modernise, simplify, and reform” the process of changing gender. Their plans are vague but indicate reducing the number of doctors in the process from two to one, maintaining the requirement of a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
[Source: Labour Party manifesto]
They have vowed to deliver a full “trans-inclusive” ban on conversion therapies.
[Source: Labour Party manifesto]
Keir Starmer has vowed to ban “gender ideology” from being taught in schools.
[Source: Keir Starmer speaking to broadcasters, 24 June 2024]
CONSERVATIVE PARTY
The Conservatives have pledged to make “biological sex a reality”. In line with this, they will introduce primary legislation to clarify that the protected characteristic of sex in the Equality Act means biological sex.
[Source: Conservative Party manifesto]
The Conservatives have vowed to ensure “the concept of gender identity” is not taught to children. And parents will have a right to know if their child wants to be treated as the opposite sex and schools will have to involve parents when it comes to decisions about their children.
[Source: Conservative Party manifesto]
The Conservatives fully backs the Cass Review and will implement it in full.
[Source: Conservative Party manifesto]
They have refused to implement a full ban all forms of conversion therapies and practices, citing it as a “complex issue.”
[Source: Conservative Party manifesto]
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
The Liberal Democrats have vowed to reform the gender recognition process to remove the requirement for medical reports, recognise non-binary identities in law, and remove the spousal veto.
[Source: Liberal Democrats manifesto]
They pledge to ban all forms of conversion therapies and practices.
[Source: Liberal Democrats manifesto]
They want to provide safe and legal routes for refugees by offering asylum to people fleeing risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They also pledge to end the culture of disbelief for LGBT+ asylum seekers, and never refuse an LGBT+ applicant on the basis that they could be discreet.
[Source: Liberal Democrats manifesto]
They argue they will improve diversity in the workplace by requiring large employers to monitor and publish data on LGBT+ employment levels, pay gaps and progression, and publish five-year aspirational diversity targets.
[Source: Liberal Democrats manifesto]
REFORM UK
Reform UK want to ban “transgender ideology” in primary and secondary schools. And are against gender questioning, social transitioning or pronoun “swapping”.
[Source: Reform UK manifesto]
They state parents of under 16s must be informed about their children's life decisions, and schools must have single sex facilities.
[Source: Reform UK manifesto]
They have vowed to replace the 2010 Equalities Act and scrap any Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DE&I) rules.
[Source: Reform UK manifesto]
Reform UK also pledge to review the Online Safety Bill because “social media giants that push baseless transgender ideology and divisive Critical Race theory should have no role in regulating free speech.”
[Source: Reform UK manifesto]
GREEN PARTY
The Green Party supports self-ID, so that trans and non-binary people could be legally recognised in their chosen gender through self-declaration.
[Source: Green Party manifesto]
They also support ending the spousal veto, and to change the law so an X gender marker can be added to passports for non-binary and intersex people who wish to use it.
[Source: Green Party manifesto]
They pledge to retain a full, “evidence-based and age-appropriate” programme of Relationships, Sex and Health Education, including LGBTIQA+ content and resources.
[Source: Green Party manifesto]
The Green Party promise to work towards no more HIV transmissions by 2030.
[Source: Green Party manifesto]
PLAID CYMRU
Plaid Cymru will seek the powers to present the Senedd with a proposal for simplified, demedicalised gender self-identification system.
[Source: Plaid Cymru manifesto]
They pledge to ban all forms of conversion therapies and practices.
[Source: Plaid Cymru manifesto]
Having secured recurrent funding for a Wales Gender Identity Clinic, Plaid Cymru commit to improving the provision and ensure timely access to its services and support.
[Source: Plaid Cymru manifesto]
They state they are concerned by the rise of hate crimes in recent years perpetrated against the LGBTQ+ community, in particular transphobia. They argue this needs to be to tackled by police forces.
[Source: Plaid Cymru manifesto]
Conclusion
All polls indicate a landslide Labour Party win. Yet, their policies on trans rights leave a lot to be desired. With Keir Starmer and the Labour set to lead the UK for at least the next few years, it is clear that our services will be as needed as ever.
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