Multiple trade unions affiliated with the Labour Party are set to boycott this year's Labour Women's Conference due to a policy restricting participation to biological women. Unison, Usdaw, Aslef, and the Musicians' Union have confirmed they will not send delegations.
This decision comes after the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC), the party's governing body, agreed that references to 'woman' or 'women' must be interpreted based on biological sex. This interpretation aligns with guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which was approved by ministers following a Supreme Court ruling in April of the previous year. The ruling stated that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.
The annual Labour Women's Conference, typically held before the main party conference, aims to increase women's involvement in policy-making. However, the new policy means the main session, including votes, keynote speeches, and policy debates, will be restricted to biological women. Fringe events will not have these restrictions.
Historically, the Labour Party permitted individuals to self-identify, allowing trans women to attend the conference and participate in measures like all-women shortlists. The party cancelled last year's women's conference to await guidance from the EHRC on the definition of a woman.
The unions boycotting the event stated that Labour's restrictions contradict their own equality policies, which generally affirm that trans women are women and that non-binary identities are valid. Unison specifically noted that the party's interpretation of the law goes against its policy on trans equality, and the union is actively campaigning for legal changes reflecting this stance.
A Labour Party spokesperson commented that the party remains committed to advancing women in politics and providing opportunities for all members to engage. They added that the Women's Conference reflects the party's dedication to addressing women's under-representation, ensuring inclusion, and adhering to legal requirements. The BBC has indicated that the ban contravenes the established trans inclusion policies of most Labour-affiliated unions, suggesting the possibility of a wider boycott.