Bridget Phillipson accused of 'causing chaos' over 13-month delay to single-sex space guidance

Bridget Phillipson has been lambasted for "causing chaos" across UK institutions over her delay in issuing the new guidance on single-sex spaces.

Speaking to GB News, broadcaster Carole Malone hit out at the Education Secretary for the 13-month delay in announcing the guidance.

Ms Phillipson is expected to confirm the official guidance on Thursday, which will state what businesses and public bodies must do under the law to protect single-sex spaces.

It will mean biological men will be barred from women's toilets, changing facilities and sports teams under new official guidance.

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Reacting to the delay, Ms Malone declared the guidance from Ms Phillipson is a "long time coming".

She told GB News: "The Supreme Court ruling was more than a year ago, and Bridget Phillipson has had a full year.

"What she's done is it's almost like she didn't want to take heed of the law. It's almost like her and the Labour Government wanted to ignore the law, wanted to make it go away."

Ms Malone accused the Labour MP of "causing chaos" for numerous institutions across the country due to the lack of clarity on single-sex spaces.

Ms Malone said: "What they've done with that is they have caused chaos in institutions everywhere - in businesses, in hospitals, in prisons, because no one knows who can go into what toilet or who can go into what space.

"And because she hasn't come out with the guidance, which has been around for a long time, there has been chaos."

She argued the Government is only "moving quickly" with it now because they can "score points" with the opposition.

Ms Malone told GB News: "It strikes me that the Labour Government is moving quite quickly now, because they know that they can score points with the opposition.

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"The Supreme Court, after all, just reinforced the law that was already in place, so it shouldn't have taken a big thing."

Noting the Supreme Court ruling, Ms Malone argued it is "ridiculous" the case was escalated to such a high institution in the first place.

She said: "It's ridiculous we ever had to get to the stage with the Supreme Court, because the Equalities Act was absolutely clear, and the reason that the waters were muddied was because trans activists twisted that and said if you're a trans woman, you were a woman.

"And therefore they decided that trans women could use women's spaces. It shouldn't have needed a Supreme Court ruling, it was clear to start with."

Last year’s Supreme Court ruling found the terms "woman" and "sex" under the Equality Act 2010 refer exclusively to biological sex.

The new guidance will apply to any organisation providing services to the public, including the NHS, Government departments, police and prisons, as well as private businesses such as cinemas, theatres, restaurants, shops and gyms.

Sources close to Ms Phillipson said she had asked the EHRC to guarantee clarity was included for all kinds of services.

EHRC chairman Mary-Ann Stephenson said the guidance would advise on ensuring "there are services provided for people who can’t or don’t want to use the services for their biological sex".

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