Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has issued a direct demand to the UK Government to publish revised gender guidance, following a meeting with a nurse at the centre of a high-profile employment tribunal.
Nurse's 'Hell' and a Call for Action
Mrs Badenoch met with nurse Sandie Peggie in Edinburgh on Thursday 15 January 2026, hailing her afterwards as an "admirable person who has been through hell". The Tory leader stated that Ms Peggie is suffering from "bureaucratic oppression" and called for an end to the harassment of individuals in similar positions.
The meeting came after Ms Peggie secured a partial victory in an industrial tribunal against her employer, NHS Fife. She had taken action after being compelled to share a changing facility at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital with a transgender doctor. While her claim of harassment was upheld by the tribunal in December, other allegations including discrimination were dismissed.
Landmark Ruling and Political Pressure
Mrs Badenoch used the encounter to increase pressure on Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson, insisting she must immediately publish updated guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). This demand follows a landmark Supreme Court judgment in April 2025, which ruled that the terms "woman" and "sex" refer to biological sex.
"Bridget Phillipson needs to publish that guidance now. It is a disgrace that she has not done so. It is causing all sorts of problems," Mrs Badenoch told journalists. She also urged the SNP government in Scotland to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling, particularly referencing ongoing legal action regarding the housing of transgender offenders in women's prisons.
Government Responses and Ongoing Assessments
Responding during First Minister's Questions, Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed the Scottish Government accepts the Supreme Court verdict. He stated that assessments are being carried out across relevant legislation and policies, with some changes already implemented.
A UK Government spokesperson defended the pace of the process, stating: "The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has submitted a draft code of practice to ministers, and we are working as quickly as we can to review it with the care it deserves." The spokesperson emphasised the need for legally robust guidance to avoid future uncertainty for single-sex services.
Reflecting on her two-year legal battle, Ms Peggie previously described the period as "agonising for me and my family". The case continues to highlight the complex tensions between rights, policies, and institutional practices across the UK.
