Civil Service Appoints Trans Equality Chief Amidst Dithering

The Government is advertising for a senior civil servant to “lead on trans equality”. A new policy manager at the Cabinet Office will focus on the “implications” of 2025’s judgment, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the term “women” in the Equality Act referred to biological sex, meaning trans women are not women under equalities law. However, Bridget Phillipson, the women and equalities minister, has continued to block the publication of guidance that would force business and public bodies to protect women-only spaces. The job advertisement posted by the Cabinet Office said the successful applicant would earn between £57,204 and £68,558 and lead on some of the Government’s “top priorities”. The advert reads: “The post holder will lead on trans equality, ensuring that we are able to take steps to improve outcomes for trans people in the UK, liaising with other departments as necessary. “The post holder will be part of the OEO [Office for Equality and Opportunity] wide team responsible for handling the implications of the recent Supreme Court case known as ‘For Women Scotland’, leading on the implications of the ruling on trans people.” The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has submitted its final guidance on the ruling to Ms Phillipson but she asked for clarification on several matters, which delayed its publication. In the meantime, the Cabinet Office is still using a policy drawn up in 2019, which said individuals should be able to choose the “appropriate single-sex toilets” for their gender. The policy also stated that repeatedly “misgendering” someone – referring to them as a gender other than the one they identify with – can constitute bullying. In December, Ms Phillipson came under fire after it emerged she had described the updated rules proposed by the EHRC as “trans-exclusive”. In her submission to the High Court, she argued the guidelines were discriminatory, adding that the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex mainly concerned maternity rights. Claire Coutinho, the shadow equalities minister, said: “It is astonishing that, nine months on from the Supreme Court ruling the Government’s only action is hiring another civil servant. “We have seen too many examples of public bodies across the country, including the Civil Service, failing to uphold the law. That is putting women’s safety, privacy and dignity at risk on a daily basis. “Yet Bridget Philipson has been sat on the EHRC’s new guidance since September. The best way to protect the rights of everyone would be to approve the guidance and start enforcing the law.” Meanwhile, the head of the Civil Service has insisted that trans women will be able to use female lavatories in government departments until Ms Phillipson publishes new guidance. Rejected demands to withdraw advice Sir Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary, rejected demands from Sex Matters, a women’s rights group, to withdraw the current advice allowing people to choose which toilet they use. Sir Chris said that, until updated guidance from the EHRC is published, departments should seek legal advice if there are any disagreements over lavatory access. Sex Matters said the failure to withdraw the guidance leaves female civil servants in an “impossible situation” and has threatened legal action against the Cabinet Office. But in a letter to the group, Sir Chris said: “The Cabinet Office will not be withdrawing the policy, or suggesting that departments should consider withdrawing theirs, until an updated version is finalised.” Maya Forstater, the chief executive of Sex Matters, said: “We are in the absurd situation that civil servants are advising Bridget Phillipson on the EHRC code of practice while the head of the Civil Service is claiming he cannot tell those staff members what rules are lawful until the guidance is finalised. “Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office is telling individual government departments to take their own legal advice rather than developing a single, standard policy that follows the law. This is an untenable position. Sex Matters will be considering its legal options.” Government sources insisted the post was an existing role being advertised across Government in line with policy when backfilling roles. They said job was within the LGBT+ team which was why the focus was on the impact of the ruling on trans people, with roles elsewhere looking at the impact on women. The Cabinet Office was contacted for comment.