Get Guardian on GoogleBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday welcomed the “clarity” provided by a Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on a person’s sex at birth.
“A woman is an adult female, and the court has made that absolutely clear,” Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, told ITV in his first comments on last week’s landmark ruling.
“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,” he added.
Starmer’s comment marks a U-turn from his previous position that “transwomen are women”.
Asked if Starmer still believed that, a Downing Street spokesman said: “No, the Supreme Court judgment has made clear that when looking at the Equality Act, a woman is a biological woman.”
Five judges at the court in London unanimously ruled last Wednesday that “the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman, and biological sex”.
Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson told the BBC on Tuesday that the judgment means transgender women should use male toilets if there is no alternative provision.
Phillipson also told ITV she hopes “business would make sure that there is a safe and appropriate place for all people to use, including trans people, who do deserve dignity and respect”.
The ruling was the culmination of a lengthy battle between the Scottish government and the campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), which appealed to the UK Supreme Court after losing pleas in Scottish courts over an obscure legislation aimed at hiring more women in public-sector bodies.
Scotland has a separate legal system from England and Wales but the UK apex court hears appeals from across the country on points of law “of the greatest public importance”.
It can also hear cases on devolved matters relating to the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The ruling has been welcomed by gender critical campaigners including author JK Rowling, but also sparked concerns from the trans community — with thousands of protesters gathering in London and Edinburgh in support of trans rights over the weekend.
