Latest news with #GoodLawProject
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
NHS body revokes guidance advising hospitals to allow trans people to use chosen bathrooms
An NHS body has been criticised after it quietly withdrew guidance advising hospitals to allow trans people to use bathrooms and changing rooms of their choice. The NHS Confederation - which represents NHS trusts across the UK - confirmed to The Independent that it had removed the guidance from its website as it became 'dated' after April's Supreme Court ruling. The judgment found that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex, sparking disputes on how Britain should treat its equality policy. In the weeks after the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued interim guidance which stated that trans women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services such as shops and hospitals'. The guidance is being legally challenged by trans-rights groups. The NHS Confederation said it had withdrawn its previously trans-inclusive advice and will issue new guidance when the EHRC updates its official Code of Practice. But trans rights groups have warned guidance on access to single-sex spaces is currently a legal 'minefield'. "The Supreme Court decision about the Equality Act doesn't mention toilets - not even once - and their provision is governed by separate legislation,' founder and executive director of Good Law Project, Jo Maugham KC, told The Independent. 'What the Supreme Court was very careful to say is that its judgment about the meaning of "woman" was solely about that word in the Equality Act. The 'toilets question' will be determined in judicial review proceedings that Good Law Project is filing today. 'For the NHS (or any other service provider) to take a position before the outcome is known is to invite lawsuits against it and risk wasting money that ought to be spent on patient care in the pursuit of ill-advised culture wars." TransActual, an organisation that supports the rights of trans people, said the development highlights the confusing implications of the ruling. "This decision may - or may not - be required as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling,' a spokesperson said. 'However, what appears abundantly clear, based on advice from multiple lawyers and experts in this field, is that the supposed 'clarity' welcomed by the prime minister shortly after the ruling is, itself, in need of some clarification. "The law, based on a narrow interpretation of the Equality Act, may support this action. Equally, any future challenges on human rights grounds, which were not considered by the Supreme Court, may lead to a different outcome. It is a minefield. Organisations are damned if they act; damned if they do not. "We sympathise with the NHS Confederation and the position they find themselves in. Nonetheless, we believe they have reached the wrong conclusion - and that will, in turn, lead to significant harm to trans people needing medical care, as they now put off, or refuse treatment that may require a hospital stay." The NHS Confederation - which does not set official NHS policy - said its intention remains to provide its members with 'information that helps them best support their staff and patients', as it confirmed it had taken its previous guidance down. A spokesperson said: 'We will update and reinstate our guide as soon as the EHRC has updated its Code of Practice, which will need to be approved by the UK government, and when NHS England has then updated its guidance for what the changes mean for NHS organisations. 'The withdrawal of our guide does not change our explicit commitment to support our members to reduce the unacceptably high levels of bullying, abuse and discrimination at work that trans and non-binary staff and patients face.' On Monday, a hearing in a case against the EHRC over its consultation period for guidance in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling is set to go ahead. Human rights group Liberty is arguing the equalities watchdog had breached its statutory duties by implementing a six-week consultation period rather than a 12-week one. The EHRC will issue official post-ruling guidance after the consultation period.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
GB News's ‘anti-woke' comedy show faces axe after thousands of complaints
GB News is considering cancelling its 'anti-woke' comedy show Headliners amid a barrage of complaints. Presenters of the Right-wing, late night panel show appeared to suggest on Saturday that it could be taken off air within a fortnight. Lewis Schaffer, one of the show's panellists, posted on X: 'I'm heading into the studio! I've been told by management that the show will be on air for another two weeks while they decide what to do!' At the start of Saturday's show, Mr Schaffer said: 'We're not allowed to talk about it.' Leo Kearse, the Headliner's host, replied: 'Thank you for not talking about it.' GB News declined to comment on the show's future. The uncertainty comes after Headliners, a comic spin on traditional newspaper review shows, was hit with tens of thousands of complaints after one of its hosts appeared to suggest the LGBTQ+ community included paedophiles. The remarks, by the comedian Josh Howie, are now the subject of an Ofcom investigation. In a segment discussing a sermon by a US bishop, which urged Donald Trump to 'have mercy' on gay, lesbian and transgender children, Mr Howie quoted a statement from the bishop's church calling for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. He said: 'I just want to say, that includes paedos, if you're doing the full inclusion.' The Headliners segment triggered more than 1,200 complaints by viewers, as well as a petition signed by more than 70,000 people from campaign group the Good Law Project that has been handed to the regulator. Angelos Frangopoulos, the chief executive of GB News, said the channel had been 'subjected to a coordinated political campaign by far-Left pressure groups'. Mr Howie has said his remarks were intended as a joke, adding: 'It's a comedy show. Where three comedians make jokes as we review the next day's newspapers.' GB News has said the comedian has been 'misrepresented'. Headliners has been on air since 2021 in the 11pm slot and is one of GB News's longest-running programmes. The show typically features mostly Right-leaning comedians. Mr Kearse's YouTube channel describes him as 'one of the UK's few openly Right-wing comedians' and one of his stand-up shows as 'about comedy triggering the wrath of woke mobs'. GB News has grappled with a series of disputes with Ofcom, the media regulator, over the content of its programming as it attempts to import Right-leaning, US-style panel shows and current affairs to Britain. In February, GB News won a crucial major High Court battle against the watchdog after a judge quashed the regulator's ruling that the channel breached impartiality rules by airing programmes presented by Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a then-Tory MP. The channel is separately challenging a £100,000 penalty handed down by Ofcom over claims it broke impartiality rules with a 2024 programme featuring Rishi Sunak, then the prime minister, alleging he had been given an 'uncontested platform to promote the policies and performance of his government'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
GB News's ‘anti-woke' comedy show faces axe after thousands of complaints
GB News is considering cancelling its 'anti-woke' comedy show Headliners amid a barrage of complaints. Presenters of the Right-wing, late night panel show appeared to suggest it could be taken off air within a fortnight ahead of this weekend's broadcast. Lewis Schaffer, one of the show's panellists, posted on X: 'I'm heading into the studio! I've been told by management that the show will be on air for another two weeks while they decide what to do!' At the start of Saturday's show, Mr Schaffer said: 'We're not allowed to talk about it.' Leo Kearse, the Headliner's host, replied: 'Thank you for not talking about it.' GB News declined to comment on the show's future. The uncertainty comes after Headliners, a comic spin on traditional newspaper review shows, was hit with tens of thousands of complaints after one of its hosts appeared to suggest the LGBTQ+ community included paedophiles. The remarks, by the comedian Josh Howie, are now the subject of an Ofcom investigation. In a segment discussing a sermon by a US bishop, which urged Donald Trump to 'have mercy' on gay, lesbian and transgender children, Mr Howie quoted a statement from the bishop's church calling for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. He said: 'I just want to say, that includes paedos, if you're doing the full inclusion.' The Headliners segment triggered more than 1,200 complaints by viewers, as well as a petition signed by more than 70,000 people from campaign group the Good Law Project that has been handed to the regulator. Angelos Frangopoulos, the chief executive of GB News, said the channel had been 'subjected to a coordinated political campaign by far-Left pressure groups'. Mr Howie has said his remarks were intended as a joke, adding: 'It's a comedy show. Where three comedians make jokes as we review the next day's newspapers.' GB News has said the comedian has been 'misrepresented'. Headliners has been on air since 2021 in the 11pm slot and is one of GB News's longest-running programmes. The show typically features mostly Right-leaning comedians. Mr Kearse's YouTube channel describes him as 'one of the UK's few openly Right-wing comedians' and one of his stand-up shows as 'about comedy triggering the wrath of woke mobs'. GB News has grappled with a series of disputes with Ofcom, the media regulator, over the content of its programming as it attempts to import Right-leaning, US-style panel shows and current affairs to Britain. In February, GB News won a crucial major High Court battle against the watchdog after a judge quashed the regulator's ruling that the channel breached impartiality rules by airing programmes presented by Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a then-Tory MP. The channel is separately challenging a £100,000 penalty handed down by Ofcom over claims it broke impartiality rules with a 2024 programme featuring Rishi Sunak, then the prime minister, alleging he had been given an 'uncontested platform to promote the policies and performance of his government'.
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
MSPs express 'deep concern' over trans toilet ruling
Toilets designated as male- or female-only are now to be interpreted as meaning biological sex, Johnstone said, while the parliament will increase its existing provision of gender-neutral facilities which will be open to anyone, in an effort to ensure 'confidence, privacy and dignity' for staff and visitors. But the letter, based on legal advice from the Good Law Project, argues that Holyrood has misinterpreted the supreme court judgment. It goes on: 'The designation suggested in the guidance issued is that male and female spaces will be applied 'by biological sex'. We would argue that the application of this is not only deeply invasive – it raises immediate questions about enforcement. We ask, non-rhetorically, on what basis are staff expected to prove their sex to use a toilet?' READ MORE: Sturgeon: 'If trans lives become almost impossible to live then law has to change' Update on winter fuel payments to more pensioners expected in coming weeks SNP ministers reaction to reset 'bizarre' given independence in EU aim The letter says this approach 'risks exposing [trans people], and anyone who may be gender non-conforming, to humiliation, harassment or worse – all under the guise of 'clarity'.' The letter, which is now available online for other MSPs and parliamentary staff to add their names to, has already been signed by a number of former Scottish government ministers including Elena Whitham and Emma Roddick, the deputy leader of the Scottish National party, Keith Brown, and the leaders of the Scottish Lib Dems and the Scottish Greens, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie. It has the support of MSPs from four of the five main parties at Holyrood, including the former Labour leadership contender Monica Lennon. Hannah Bardell, the former SNP MP who organised the letter working with the Good Law Project, said she expected more Holyrood politicians and staff to sign up now that the concerns had been made public. 'I've spoken to many MSPs who feel huge concern about this decision. I hope this can move the debate forward and that the corporate body can rethink their decision just like other organisations have done,' she told the Guardian. 'It's very sad that the question of how trans people live their lives has become so toxic that the very people who represent them feel nervous about signing a letter like this.' The decision leaves Holyrood out of step with other parliaments across the UK, with current policies at Westminster, Stormont and the Senedd remaining unchanged until final guidance has been handed down by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. That guidance is now expected to be delayed until after the summer to allow for further consultation. A spokesman for the Scottish Parliament said this was an interim stance and further practical changes may be needed in light of an updated code of practice from the EHRC. He said: 'We will therefore consult with staff, their trade union representatives, members and other stakeholders, including equalities groups who work regularly and closely with people with protected equalities characteristics, at an appropriate point.'
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
MSPs express ‘deep concern' over Scottish parliament trans toilet ruling
Nearly 50 MSPs and their staff have signed a letter to the governing body of the Scottish parliament expressing 'deep concern' about its decision to ban trans people from using the toilets of their lived gender in the building. Alison Johnstone, Holyrood's presiding officer and chair of the Scottish parliament's corporate body, set out the interim position earlier this month in response to the supreme court's ruling on biological sex. Toilets designated as male- or female-only are now to be interpreted as meaning biological sex, Johnstone said, while the parliament will increase its existing provision of gender-neutral facilities which will be open to anyone, in an effort to ensure 'confidence, privacy and dignity' for staff and visitors. But the letter, based on legal advice from the Good Law Project, argues that Holyrood has misinterpreted the supreme court judgment. It goes on: 'The designation suggested in the guidance issued is that male and female spaces will be applied 'by biological sex'. We would argue that the application of this is not only deeply invasive – it raises immediate questions about enforcement. We ask, non-rhetorically, on what basis are staff expected to prove their sex to use a toilet?' The letter says this approach 'risks exposing [trans people], and anyone who may be gender non-conforming, to humiliation, harassment or worse – all under the guise of 'clarity'.' The letter, which is now available online for other MSPs and parliamentary staff to add their names to, has already been signed by a number of former Scottish government ministers including Elena Whitham and Emma Roddick, the deputy leader of the Scottish National party, Keith Brown, and the leaders of the Scottish Lib Dems and the Scottish Greens, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie. It has the support of MSPs from four of the five main parties at Holyrood, including the former Labour leadership contender Monica Lennon. Hannah Bardell, the former SNP MP who organised the letter working with the Good Law Project, said she expected more Holyrood politicians and staff to sign up now that the concerns had been made public. 'I've spoken to many MSPs who feel huge concern about this decision. I hope this can move the debate forward and that the corporate body can rethink their decision just like other organisations have done,' she said. 'It's very sad that the question of how trans people live their lives has become so toxic that the very people who represent them feel nervous about signing a letter like this.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion The decision leaves Holyrood out of step with other parliaments across the UK, with current policies at Westminster, Stormont and the Senedd remaining unchanged until final guidance has been handed down by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. That guidance is now expected to be delayed until after the summer to allow for further consultation. A spokesperson for the Scottish parliament said this was an interim stance and further practical changes may be needed in light of an updated code of practice from the EHRC. They said: 'We will therefore consult with staff, their trade union representatives, members and other stakeholders, including equalities groups who work regularly and closely with people with protected equalities characteristics, at an appropriate point.'
