The Labour Party today confirmed that transgender women will not be permitted to attend the main sessions of its 2026 National Women’s Conference, scheduled to take place in Liverpool.
The decision follows a comprehensive legal review by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), in response to the UK Supreme Court’s April ruling that clarified “sex” under the Equality Act refers to biological sex rather than self-identified gender.
Biological males who identify as female will be excluded from keynote speeches, policy debates, voting on motions, and committee elections.
Transgender women will still be allowed to access exhibition spaces, fringe meetings, and evening receptions, but not the main conference hall. The NEC stated the change was necessary to ensure compliance with the law and to address the under-representation of women in the party.
A Labour Party spokesperson commented: “The National Women’s Conference will be held in 2026 after a comprehensive legal review. This reflects our commitment to addressing the under-representation of women in the party and compliance with the law.”
The announcement has already sparked intense debate across political and activist circles. Women’s rights campaigners have welcomed the move as a victory for biological women’s representation, while LGBTQ+ advocates have criticized it as exclusionary and harmful to trans rights.
The 2025 Women’s Conference was cancelled amid fears of legal action from gender-critical campaigners, who argued that the event should only be open to biological women. The 2026 conference is expected to be a landmark gathering, with heightened scrutiny on how Labour balances legal obligations with inclusivity.