Labour's Bev Craig Stands Firm on Trans Rights and Single-Sex Spaces
Labour’s Bev Craig has stood by her previous stance on trans rights and single-sex spaces, responding to a question about women’s rights and the landmark 2025 Supreme Court ruling. The ruling held that the definition of sex in the Equality Act refers to biological sex.
Question at Manchester Mayoral Hustings
At the Manchester Evening News mayoral hustings, Ms Craig was asked if the candidates for the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election would act on the guidance and ensure single-sex spaces were maintained. The Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) interim guidance clarifies that single-sex spaces, such as toilets and changing rooms, should generally be based on biological sex.
Craig's Response
“Throughout the course of my life, I’ve fought for LGBT rights,” said Ms Craig, who is also leader of Manchester City Council. “And I believe in a world where the two can go hand in hand. I’ve shown that you can stand up for single-sex spaces, like women’s refuges that are important, but also not throw our trans communities under the bus.” She said she was a “proud and committed feminist”, before adding: “I will not pit minority against minority for political point scoring.”
Previous Council Motion
In 2022, Manchester City Council (MCC) passed a motion titled “Trans Rights Are Human Rights”, declaring that “trans men are men, trans women are women, non-binary people are non-binary and trans rights are human rights.” In the same year, Andy Burnham, then mayor of Greater Manchester, stated that barring transgender women from accessing women’s toilets was a “minority view.”
Burnham's Shift
However, on the launch of his campaign for the Makerfield by-election, Andy Burnham said “the time has come” to follow the updated EHRC guidance.
Other Candidates' Views
The Green candidate Geraldine Coggins said the party would “put women’s issues right at the heart of what we’re doing” before adding: “I stand 100 percent with our trans community. And we know that the risk and threat does not come from trans people.”
The Tory Party candidate Phil Eckersley attacked Labour’s record, saying the party had a year to act on the Supreme Court ruling but had “sat on their hands for a long time.” “I have a six month old daughter and when I hear that biological male police officers are frisking women and girls, that doesn’t sit well with me,” he said. “I believe we should stand by the Supreme Court ruling.”
Marlon West, candidate for Restore Britain, also agreed with the court ruling, adding: “This is common sense. You’re either male or female biologically and I will stand by that.”
Reform UK’s Sian Asley talked about her best friend in the 1980s who was trans. “This was before the internet and we didn’t really understand it but we didn’t really care because we were friends and on a human level it didn’t matter.” But she also said she supported the Supreme Court ruling. “I also would say that we do have to have compassion for individuals and minority groups. I don’t dislike trans people,” she said, adding that a compromise might be investing in unisex toilets that could be used by anyone.
Richard Kilpatrick, meanwhile, said he was “proud” the Lib Dems had elected the first openly trans councillor in Manchester. “A democracy is judged by how it treats its minorities”, he said, adding that he was an “ally” to trans people. “I disagree with the ruling. I think the ruling isn’t really fit for purpose. I think it needs to be better.”
By-Election Date
The by-election for the Mayor of Greater Manchester will take place on Thursday July 30.
