Lucy Powell has criticised the EHRC’s interim guidance on transgender issues, describing it as “not right” and calling for MPs to review the rules before they are implemented. The Manchester MP, favourite to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader, has pledged to provide a critical voice on the Government from outside the Cabinet. Her opponent, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, is seen as Downing Street’s preferred candidate for the role.
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At a fringe event during the party conference, Ms Powell suggested that Parliament should have the power to scrutinise the guidance, which mandates that businesses and public bodies protect women-only spaces such as lavatories, following a Supreme Court ruling on biological sex. She argued that a robust and transparent parliamentary conversation is necessary to ensure the law is properly applied.
The row has prompted criticism from Conservatives, who accused Labour of “siding with radical trans activists” instead of defending the rights of women to single-sex spaces. Ms Powell also highlighted the challenges facing Labour as it attempts to counter Reform UK, warning that the party risks alienating voters both to the Right and the Left if it fails to offer clear alternatives.
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In a combative exchange ahead of the deputy leadership hustings, Ms Powell emphasised that broader voices need to be heard within the party to improve decision-making. She argued that Labour must correct its course to become more successful and reconnect with its base, while maintaining that internal debate should not be confused with dissent.
