Lib Dem members criticise 'trans-exclusionary' rule change for party elections

Liberal Democrat Members in Uproar Over 'Trans-Exclusionary' Rule Change in Party Elections

A change in rules governing Liberal Democrat elections has sparked outrage among party members, with many calling the new quotas "explicitly trans-exclusionary" and "unacceptable". The party's LGBT+ group, Young Liberals, and even some MPs have expressed their discontent over the sudden move.

The shift in rules aims to reflect the supreme court's recent ruling on biological sex, which now defines women as those assigned female at birth. As a result, quotas previously reserved for women are no longer applicable to transgender women, while men's quotas now exclude trans men. The party has attempted to address this by introducing new quotas that include trans individuals.

However, the LGBT+ group has stated that the changes contradict the party's previous stance on the issue, which was expressed at the September conference where delegates voted not to debate a motion calling for similar rule changes. Despite some opposition, the party has decided to move forward with the new rules.

The chair of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, Charley Hasted, lamented that alternative solutions were not explored, such as suspending quotas until there was legal clarity. Young Liberals described the changes as "unacceptable and untenable", with one MP stating it was "gut-wrenching" to see how the supreme court ruling was affecting the party.

The Liberal Democrats have maintained that they will continue to support trans individuals and allow them to live without fear of discrimination. A spokesperson for the party has called on the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to publish new guidance, stating that it is waiting for clarity to ensure that their policies are in line with the law.

The decision has left at least five transgender or non-binary candidates directly affected, with one seeking legal advice. The controversy highlights the ongoing challenges faced by trans individuals within the party and raises questions about the role of quotas in promoting diversity and inclusion.

Ugh, this is so messed up ! The Liberal Democrats are trying to be all inclusive and stuff, but then they go ahead and change their rules to exclude trans people? It's like, come on! Can't they just wait for some clarity from the EHRC or something instead of making things worse? I get that the supreme court ruling is a big deal, but does it really have to affect party elections too? And what about all the poor trans people who are trying to run for office and now their chances are being slashed because of some arbitrary rule change. It's just not fair . The party needs to go back to the drawing board and figure out a better way to promote diversity and inclusion, like maybe by introducing quotas that actually benefit everyone, not just some people over others .

I'm kinda shocked that the Liberal Democrats are doing this change to their election rules . Like, I get it, the supreme court ruling is a big deal, but can't they just wait for more clarity before messing with their own policies? It's like, what about all the trans people who were hoping to run for office and feel like they're being excluded because of this new rule . And what even are these quotas doing anymore, anyway? I just wish they could've found a way to make everyone feel included instead of dividing the group .

Ugh just saw this - the Liberal Democrats are introducing new rules for their elections that exclude trans women from women's quotas but include them in men's quotas... like, what's next? It's so frustrating because they're basically saying that trans people don't deserve equal representation. I mean, I get it, the supreme court ruling is a thing and all, but can't we just find a way to work around it instead of making new rules that are super alienating?

I'm not sure I get why the Liberal Democrats are making such a big deal over this rule change ... don't get me wrong, I think it's super important to have a more inclusive policy, but can't we just wait for some clarity on what "trans-exclusionary" even means? Like, isn't that kinda just a fancy way of saying we need more information? I mean, I'd rather they spent their time researching and figuring out the best solution instead of being all dramatic about it. And honestly, who's to say these quotas are actually working in the first place? It feels like there might be some underlying issues with our current system that need to be addressed, not just a quick fix.

Just read this . Think it's a shame the party is moving forward without exploring alternative solutions. Those new quotas are gonna hurt people who wanna run for office. What's the point of having inclusive policies if we're just gonna exclude?

I'm so disappointed to see our Lib Dem party struggling with something as simple as inclusivity . I mean, come on, we should be a party that's all about equality and human rights . Introducing these new rules is just going back on what they promised at the last conference . Can't we just take a step back and figure out how to make this work instead of piling more drama onto it? I'm not sure what's more concerning, the fact that trans people are still being excluded or that our party is so divided about it . We need to listen to each other more than we're listening to our own egos .

omg can u believe this? they're literally changing rules on trans ppl cuz of a court ruling , like what's next? are they gonna change the definition of 'woman' in their party handbook too? it's all good, tho - they say they'll still support trans individuals , but u gotta wonder if quotas were even necessary to start with... idk, maybe just a bunch of politicians trying to sound cool at conferences "oh look, we're inclusive!"

omg this is so not what i expected from our lovely lib dems they should've thought things through before introducing these new rules, especially considering how it affects trans people can't believe they didn't explore suspending quotas until there's more clarity on the law and what's with the "new" policy of including trans individuals? feels like a non-starter to me at least 5 trans or non-binary candidates are directly affected, that's not cool hope they get the support they deserve

I'm kinda shocked by this news, to be honest. On one hand, I get why the party wants to adapt to the supreme court's ruling and ensure fairness for all members. But on the other hand, introducing new quotas that exclude trans men feels like a step back in terms of inclusivity . It's like they're playing catch-up instead of being ahead of the curve.

And what really gets me is that there are alternative solutions out there, like suspending quotas until there's clearer guidance from the EHRC . I wish they would've explored those options instead of just rushing into this change.

It's also interesting to see how this controversy reflects the complexities of our society and the challenges faced by trans individuals . It highlights the need for more nuanced discussions around diversity, inclusion, and equality.

ugh, this is just great... like what's next? gonna make us all prove our gender on a daily basis too? i mean, i get it, trans ppl deserve equal rights but come on, party politics... the party thinks they're doing the right thing but really they're just making things harder for themselves. and now five ppl are like "what do we even do?" this whole thing is a hot mess...

Ugh , I don't get why they gotta make such a big deal outta this . A few months ago, everyone was hyped about how progressive the Lib Dems were on trans issues... now it's like they're backpedaling . I mean, can't they just wait for some clear guidelines from the EHRC instead of imposing their own rules? The whole thing feels kinda arbitrary . And what about all these trans folks who are already struggling to get a foot in the door? Do they really need quotas to be included or is that just a feel-good measure?

I don’t usually comment but I think this is a weird move from the Lib Dem... like they're trying to sound more inclusive but it's just come off as exclusionary . If they were really committed to supporting trans individuals, wouldn't they have explored alternative solutions instead of just changing the rules? And what about all the other groups that don’t fit into these new quotas? Is everyone going to be judged on their biological sex now? It's all a bit confusing and I'm not sure if this is really helping to promote diversity and inclusion...