WATCH: Moment police rush in as trans activists clash with pro-women’s rights group in London

WATCH: Moment Police rush in as trans activists clash with pro-women's rights group in London |

GB NEWS

Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 01/11/2025

- 14:47

Updated: 01/11/2025

- 17:21

Women's rights groups have descended on London and Edinburgh this afternoon to demand the implementation of trans guidance

Watch the moment police rush in while trans activists clash with a pro-women's rights group during a protest in the Capital.

The footage shows officers from the Metropolitan Police breaking up fights between demonstrators in the heart of London, where both a protest and counter-protest are taking place.


This afternoon, women's rights groups gathered to demand the implementation of the Supreme Court's trans ruling, marking 199 days since the judicial decision.

During the protest, the police force put conditions in place under section 14 Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption.

The Metropolitan Police were seen rushing in as trans activists clash with pro-women's rights campaigners

Police were seen rushing in between the groups this afternoon

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Officers made three arrests at the counter-protest, one on suspicion of criminal damage and two for breaching the Public Order Act conditions.

No further incidents were reported, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

The march began in Parliament Square and has proceeded to move down Embankment opposite the London Eye while pro-trans groups launched a counter-protest.

But the publication of such advice could be pushed off as the Government looks to find just how much complying with the ruling could cost businesses, The Times has suggested.

A Government spokesman said: "We have always been clear that the proper process needs to be followed, which includes understanding the potential impact on businesses, public functions and services."

As a result, women's rights campaigners have launched a protest to call on the Government to apply the ruling and issue legal guidance.

Declaring "the law is the law", Sex Matters' campaign director Fiona McAnena spoke to GB News reporter Sam Francis about the drive behind the protest.

In April, the Supreme Court ruled that the term "women" refers to biological sex, rather than gender identity, leading to mass outrage across Britain within the pro-trans community.

But since the ruling, no guidance has been issued, leading to organisations' claiming to plead ignorance on the matter when it comes to enforcing the ruling in single sex spaces, such as changing rooms and toilets.

In fact, the guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on the way in which organisations should operate single sex spaces could be delayed for up to a year.

A draft document of the guidance was handed at Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson more than two months ago.

Meanwhile, gender critical activist Maya Forstater took aim at the Government, saying: "Straight after the ruling, Keir Starmer said the Government supports it. Everyone needs to get on with it."

"And now we've been waiting seven months for guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It's been completed," she said, adding that they did not know why the process has been delayed.

"Everyone needs to understand the law. And, at the moment, they're saying there is no guidance."

At the London protest, Sex Matters' campaign director Fiona McAnena demanded "leadership" from the authorities she she declared: "The law's the law!"

The activist told the People's Channel: "It's perfectly simple and clear. You know, if something is meant to be for one sex or the other, then that's based on how you're born and you can't change that."

"When the ruling was made, no one was in any doubt what it meant," she said, with the protest and counter-protest surrounding her.

"Everyone knows what a man and a woman is, so we just need people to find a bit of backbone," she finished.

Protests are taking place from London to Edinburgh

In Scotland's capital, trans rights activists have launched a similar counter-protest in response to gender critical activists demonstrating outside Holyrood.

Campaigners from pro-women's rights group Women Won’t Wheesht are protesting at the bottom of the Royal Mile alongside supporting groups.

They are encouraging the full implementation of the Supreme Court ruling "without delay, across all Government departments, services and policies".

Pro-trans campaigners from Resisting Transphobia in Edinburgh (RTiE) and Trans Kids Deserve Better (TKDB) will be in attendance at the counter-protest.

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