British Prime Minister Keir Starmer does not believe that transgender women are women, according to his spokesperson.
This statement comes after a highly debated ruling by the UK Supreme Court last week, which determined that a woman is defined by her biological sex under the Equality Act.
The decision also makes clear that a person who was born male but identifies as female does not have the right to access spaces or services reserved exclusively for women.
When asked whether the Prime Minister still believes a transgender woman is a woman, his spokesperson said: “No, the Supreme Court ruling made it clear that under the Equality Act, a woman is a biological woman,” meaning a woman is defined by biology.
As reported by the BBC, the spokesperson added that “this is clearly set out in the court’s decision.”
When further asked whether the Prime Minister would now use female pronouns for a transgender woman, the spokesperson declined to “comment on hypotheticals” but emphasized that the Prime Minister “was clear that transgender people should be treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else.”
On Monday, Starmer welcomed the court’s decision, saying it provided “much-needed clarity” for those responsible for drafting guidelines.
Back in March 2022, when he was still Leader of the Opposition, Starmer told The Times that “a woman is an adult female, and moreover, trans women are women – this is not just my view, it’s actually the law.”
