The former head of Britain's human rights watchdog has launched a blistering attack on the Labour Party, accusing it of 'abandoning' women on critical issues including trans rights and the protection of girls from grooming gangs.
Founding Principles 'Abandoned'
Baroness Falkner of Margravine, who stepped down as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) last week, told The Times that Labour has lost sight of its founding principles of equality and feminism. The 70-year-old peer claimed the party is now 'terrified' of MPs who favour trans self-identification, leading to a paralysis in policy.
'What really depresses me about the current state of the Labour Party is that they seem to have completely abandoned women's rights,' she stated. This criticism centres on the government's continued delay in publishing official guidance on single-sex spaces, despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling in April.
A Legal 'Grey Zone' for Women and Trans People
In that ruling, five Supreme Court justices unanimously confirmed that protections under the Equality Act apply on the basis of biological sex, meaning references to 'women' in the legislation pertain to biological females. Baroness Falkner warned that the failure to issue clear guidance in the wake of this judgment has left both women and transgender individuals trapped in a damaging 'grey zone'.
She argued that public bodies like councils and NHS trusts are now potentially acting unlawfully by allowing biological men into female-only spaces, even after the court's decision. 'Public bodies do not need to wait for new guidance before enforcing the ruling,' she emphasised.
The Baroness, who is certain of the lawfulness of the EHRC's own code, suggested the delay stems from political fear. 'The other explanation simply is that they're terrified of their MPs who would wish for trans self-identification or trans inclusion to prevail across all areas of society,' she said.
Failure on Grooming Gangs and Internal Chaos
Beyond the trans rights debate, Baroness Falkner also accused Labour of turning its back on vulnerable girls at risk from grooming gangs. She claimed the government had failed to confront the issue head-on, leaving victims in jeopardy after the national inquiry descended into chaos following a string of resignations.
She noted that it took external pressure from figures like Baroness Casey to expose the true scale of abuse in towns across Britain, implying ministerial inaction.
In response to the criticisms, a government spokesperson said it would not rush out flawed guidance on single-sex spaces that could undermine legal protections, insisting it is focused on producing a robust framework. The Home Office added it remains committed to a full statutory inquiry into grooming gangs, accepting all recommendations from previous reviews.
Labour sources rejected the claim that the party has abandoned women's rights, pointing to a wide-ranging plan to protect women and girls from violence and discrimination, and highlighting work led by the shadow equalities team.
