- PM Keir Starmer welcomes the Supreme Court ruling defining a woman as an “adult female”.
- He says the judgment offers much-needed clarity for laws and public guidance.
- Critics previously accused Starmer of avoiding the issue due to political sensitivity.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly endorsed the Supreme Court’s recent ruling clarifying that, under the Equality Act, the term “woman” refers to biological sex.
The delay in his response, coming nearly a week after the court’s decision, had sparked criticism from media and campaigners who viewed his silence as evasive.
Clarity and Controversy: Starmer’s Balancing Act on Gender Law
Starmer’s endorsement of the ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing national debate over gender identity and legal definitions. The Supreme Court’s decision affirms that the legal term “woman” in the context of the Equality Act refers to biological sex, not gender identity—reshaping how institutions interpret and apply the law.
This development has direct implications for public bodies managing single-sex spaces, such as prisons, shelters, and hospital wards. Starmer has called for uniform guidance across the country to ensure service providers comply consistently with the clarified law.
His statement appears to distance himself from previous comments seen as more aligned with trans-inclusive perspectives, such as his past remark that “only women have a cervix” was not accurate. Opponents have seized on this shift to question his consistency and accuse him of political opportunism.
Despite the political risks, Starmer framed the judgment as a way to move forward from a divisive and legally uncertain area. By backing the ruling, he positions himself as responsive to legal authority while attempting to maintain a pragmatic middle ground.
The Supreme Court’s gender ruling has forced the prime minister to take a clearer stance—balancing legal definitions with political nuance in a highly charged debate.
“A woman is an adult female, and the court has made that absolutely clear.”
