We are deeply disturbed by reports that the Labour Party is preparing to formalise a position that explicitly excludes trans women from key areas of political life. If accurate, the leaked NEC paper represents not just a betrayal of the trans community but a regressive shift that undermines the rights of all women.
Let’s be clear: trans women are women. Excluding us from All-Women Shortlists, the Women’s Conference, and roles like Women’s Officer is not just discriminatory—it is a deliberate erasure of trans women from political participation and leadership. These changes send a chilling message: that no matter how long we’ve been involved in the party, no matter how we live our lives, or how we are recognised by the state, we will be treated as second-class citizens—if at all.
The language of the document suggests Labour is aligning itself with an extreme legal interpretation that claims “gender” has no standing under the Equality Act, and that all references must be understood as “biological sex at birth.” This is not a neutral legal correction. It is a political choice—and a dangerous one—that misrepresents the law, erodes years of precedent, and sidelines trans women under the false banner of legality.
Trans people have long contributed to the Labour movement. We have organised, canvassed, stood for office, supported our comrades, and fought for justice across countless campaigns. To be written out of that movement now, through a bureaucratic sleight of hand, is cowardly and shameful.
This is not about the law. It is about power—who gets it, who keeps it, and who gets pushed out. Excluding trans women from these structures does not protect women’s rights. It divides us. It weakens the fight for equality. And it tells every young trans person watching that their future in public life is not just discouraged, it is structurally barred.
We call on Labour MPs, CLPs, and affiliated organisations to reject this exclusionary direction and to stand with trans women. There is still time to stop this.
But let’s be clear: if Labour chooses to enshrine biological essentialism in its rule book, it will not just lose votes. It will lose any moral claim to be the party of equality.