POLL OF THE DAY: Are new rules on single-sex spaces ‘harmful to the rights of trans people’?

The Conservatives have written to every Conservative-led council urging them to swiftly adopt new rules protecting single-sex spaces, after some Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green-run councils indicated they would defy fresh equality watchdog guidance, arguing it undermines trans rights. The move follows last year's Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, and comes as the Equality and Human Rights Commission's related Code of Practice takes effect. It highlights an ongoing political and legal dispute over how single-sex space rules should be applied by public bodies.

The Code of Practice, which came into force this week, requires organisations providing public services — including the NHS, shops, gyms, councils, government departments, police, prisons, hotels and restaurants — to enforce single-sex spaces based on biological sex rather than gender identity. Kemi Badenoch's party has accused Labour, Lib Dem and Green councils of unlawfully refusing to comply, saying the Tories "believe in protecting the rights of women and girls", and has sent letters to all Conservative council and group leaders demanding "rapid compliance". The Daily Mail is inviting readers to vote in a poll on whether they agree the rules are harmful to trans people's rights; in the previous day's poll, 95% of over 9,000 respondents said criticism of Professor Jason Arday was not racially motivated.