Ministers accused of ‘passing the buck’ over rebellious councils breaking toilet rules

NewsPolitics Credit: Getty MINISTERS have been accused of “passing the buck” on Green-run councils flouting rules on same-sex toilets. Leftie local authorities have vowed to defy new guidance which came into force last week. Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson said it would be down to watchdog Equality and Human Rights Commission [EHRC] to make sure the guidance is upheld Credit: Alamy Shadow Equalities Minister Claire Coutinho claimed Labour was ‘desperate’ to avoid any responsibility for enforcing the rules Credit: The Times Places like toilets, changing-rooms and refuges must be used by people based on their sex at birth rather than gender identity. But London boroughs – Lambeth, Hackney, Haringey, Lewisham, Southwark and Waltham Forest – jointly vowed to keep their services “inclusive”. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! They wrote to Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson claiming the rules “will feel like an attack” on transgender and non-binary people. On Friday Ms Phillipson told the BBC it would be down to watchdog Equality and Human Rights Commission [EHRC] to make sure the guidance is upheld. Shadow Minister for Equalities Claire Coutinho claimed Labour was “desperate” to avoid any responsibility for enforcing the rules. She added: “By passing the buck onto the equalities watchdog, Bridget Phillipson is letting down the millions of women and girls across the country who are relying on her to ensure their rights to single-sex spaces. “Ministers are supposed to lead, not hide behind quangos because they are terrified of upsetting their own radical activists and backbenchers.” Maya Forstater, CEO of sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, added: “We had called on the minister for women and equalities to speak out about councils openly defying the law. Most read in The Sun “Bridget Phillipson’s comments on the law being clear are welcome, but fall short of what is necessary to address rebellious councils who openly plan to defy the law.” Ms Forstater won a landmark case after she was sacked for sharing her view that transgender people can’t change their biological sex. She added: “The Minister in charge of the department should not try to pass the buck to the EHRC in tackling councils that plan to make a mockery of the law.” Ms Phillipson told the BBC it is “right” that there are “appropriate single-sex spaces” such as women’s refuges and rape crisis centres. Asked who will enforce the guidance, Ms Phillipson said the EHRC “is the independent regulator for making sure that this is upheld”. She said: “I think the guidance gives duty bearers a clear direction as to what they need to do, and it is ultimately their responsibility to make sure that they are compliant with the law. “And of course, the EHRC, as the independent regulator, will make sure that the rights that we all enjoy are upheld.” Comment now