PRIME Minister Keir Starmer has finally broken his silence on the Supreme Court's gender ruling.
Last week, the Scottish Government lost a high-profile case at the UK Supreme Court to anti-trans campaign group For Women Scotland.
The top judges ruled on Wednesday that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.
The ruling made clear that a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate, who under a 2004 act became their acquired "sex" for all purposes, did not have access to single-sex services provided for by the later 2010 act.
Starmer, who last week was on his Easter holidays, has been under pressure to address the ruling in the days since the judgment was announced.
The Prime Minister said “a woman is an adult female” when pushed on whether he believed a trans woman was a woman following the court's decision.
The Prime Minister told ITV West Country: “I think the Supreme Court has answered that question.”
Asked if that meant he did not believe a trans woman is a woman, Starmer said: “A woman is an adult female, and the court has made that absolutely clear.
“I actually welcome the judgment because I think it gives real clarity. It allows those that have got to draw up guidance to be really clear about what that guidance should say.
“So I think it’s important that we see the judgment for what it is. It’s a welcome step forward.
“It’s real clarity in an area where we did need clarity, I’m pleased it’s come about.
“We need to move and make sure that we now ensure that all guidance is in the right place according to that judgment.”
Meanwhile in Scotland today, the Social Justice Secretary is due to address MSPs on the Scottish Government’s response to the ruling.
Shirley-Anne Somerville is expected to give a statement on the issue in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday as MSPs return from recess.
Health Secretary Neil Gray is also expected to meet the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) this week as the Government is urged to issue fresh guidance to public bodies on single-sex spaces.
They will discuss existing guidance on single-sex spaces within the NHS and reports of a forthcoming “guide to transitioning” document.
SNP ministers have said they are willing to work with the EHRC and UK ministers on developing guidance in light of the ruling.
