Labour’s upcoming women’s conference in Liverpool is facing significant opposition following the party’s decision to bar transgender women from serving as delegates. The move has prompted widespread protests and boycott threats from politicians, trade unions, and activists across the United Kingdom, with demonstrations planned on the eve of the event.
The controversy stems from last year’s Supreme Court ruling that defined the legal meaning of “woman” as someone born female. In response, Labour implemented a policy restricting participation in formal conference activities—including main hall speeches and policy debates—to individuals assigned female at birth. This shift represents a reversal from previous practice, when trans women who self-identified as women were allowed to take part in the conference.
Several major unions affiliated with Labour, such as Unison, Aslef, Usdaw, and the Musicians’ Union, have announced they will boycott the event in protest against the exclusion of trans women. The Commercial Workers Union and other affiliated unions have since indicated they will also withhold participation, citing the decision as inconsistent with their pro-trans inclusion positions. These absences pose a financial and organizational challenge for Labour, which relies on union support and donations.
In addition to union withdrawals, party members and activists from across the country are expected to gather outside the conference venue in Liverpool to protest the ban. Demonstrators will distribute leaflets featuring statements from trans women affected by the policy and criticism of party figures such as Andy Burnham. Liverpool’s Trade Union Council (LTUC), which coordinates unions across the city, has expressed its opposition to the decision. LTUC Secretary Margaret McAdam described the ban as “shocking” and confirmed the council’s active role in encouraging supporters to attend the protests and other weekend events.
Reports indicate that some local Labour groups, including councillors from Essex, plan to arrive early for the main conference to express their disapproval during the women’s conference sessions. One councillor, James Griggs of Harlow, described the decision as “extraordinary, unaccountable and just dreadful” for the division it has caused. There are also suggestions that at least one Labour Member of Parliament may join the demonstrations.
Labour initially canceled its women’s conference last year following legal advice related to the Supreme Court ruling. In December 2025, the party’s National Executive Committee formally adopted rules to exclude trans women from participating in specific conference proceedings and to restrict all-women shortlists to individuals born female. However, trans women remain eligible to attend fringe events, which are open to all members regardless of sex or gender.
A Labour spokesperson emphasized the party’s commitment to promoting women’s representation and providing spaces for debate and networking, stating that the Women’s Conference aligns with legal requirements while aiming to address the underrepresentation of women within Labour.