Former Green Party leader urges government to let MPs debate changes to EHRC guidance

Carla Denyer, the former co-leader of the Green Party, has urged the government to let MPs debate changes to guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). 

The EHRC began consulting on updates to its Code of Practiced in April, following the UK Supreme Court ruling that decreed the meaning of the word “woman” in the 2010 Equality Act referred to “biological women”.

Earlier this month, the EHRC, the UK’s top human rights regulator, announced it had sent a finished version of the code for services, public functions and associations to equalities minister – and now favourite to become Labour’s deputy leader – Bridget Phillipson.

The final version has not been made public yet, but proposed changes included clauses that would force trans people to take ID with them into “single-sex” facilities, such as changing rooms and toilets, prompting trans advocacy groups to condemn the recommendations as “harmful”. 

Now, Denyer has written to Phillipson asking for a parliamentary debate to be scheduled to discuss the statutory guidance. 

‘Trans people fear not being able to go about their daily lives’

“This is something of huge concern to trans people in my constituency of Bristol Central, and to trans people up and down the country, who fear not being able to go about their daily lives in privacy and dignity,” Denyer wrote. 

Referring to the Leader of the House, Alan Campbell, saying there would be time given for MPs to voice their opinions, Denyer added: “The purpose of this letter is to ask if you could add some detail to last week’s promise and let me know via what mechanism we will get a debate on the floor of the house.” 

Highlighting her request on Bluesky, she pointed out that “many are worried [the finalised guidance] will further the exclusion of trans people”. 

Trans people are anxiously waiting for the EHRC’s final guidance to be published, following its extreme and unworkable interim guidance. I know many are worried it will further the exclusion of trans people. I've written to govt to say that we MPs must be given time to debate it.

[image or embed]

— Carla Denyer (@carladenyer.bsky.social) 11 September 2025 at 13:49

More than 80 organisations and activist groups have signed an open letter calling on prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to hold a “meaningful debate” on the new provisions.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.