Single-sex spaces tsar tasked with implementing Supreme Court ruling will also make it easier for people to change gender

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Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 05/07/2025

- 08:12

This decision has sparked concerns amongst civil servants about impartiality

A senior civil servant recruited by the Government to oversee the implementation of the Supreme Court's ruling on single-sex spaces will also help make it easier for people to legally change their gender.

The role, advertised by the Cabinet Office's Office for Equality and Opportunity, will "lead on the Government's response to the recent Supreme Court ruling" and manage reforms to the Gender Recognition Act, according to official documents.


The Supreme Court ruled in April that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex for Equality Act purposes.

This landmark ruling provides legal backing for organisations to protect single-sex spaces like changing rooms.

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A Senior civil servant recruited by the Government to oversee the implementation of the Supreme Court's ruling on single-sex spaces will also help make it easier for people to legally change their gender

PA

Sir Keir Starmer said last week that organisations refusing to implement the ruling must do so "as soon as possible".

The position will be managed by the LGBT+ policy team rather than the women's policy team.

This decision has sparked concerns amongst civil servants about impartiality.

One civil servant said: "It's disgraceful that applying the law which is explicitly about sex and women's rights is yet again being sucked into the LGBT+ space.

"Locating the policy development within a totally captured unit feels like a willful attempt by the civil service to minimise the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on our public services."

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Supreme Court rulingThe announcement comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the term 'woman' in the Equality Act was defined by biological sexGetty

Another colleague expressed worry about the unit's influence.

They noted that it "has the ear of equality ministers and a co-ordinating role across Government on equality issues, often setting the requirements that other departments must adhere to."

They added: "Many staff in this department are not impartial, due to their extreme beliefs in gender identity and denial that sex is real [or] relevant."

Maya Forstater, chief executive of the charity Sex Matters, said: "The successful candidate for this £70,000 role will require extraordinary skills in managing cognitive dissonance to both oversee the Government's response to the Supreme Court judgment and to deliver GRA reform, as outlined in the job description."

\u200bTrans activists protesting against the Supreme Court rulingTrans activists protesting against the Supreme Court rulingPA

The internal job advertisement revealed the grade six position attracts a salary between £70,575 and £78,813.

Forstater added: "It was reported widely in February that the Government had shelved plans to make it easier to obtain a gender recognition certificate, so does this ad signal a stealth U-turn?"

She argued that "a more useful appointment would be a senior figure to oversee rapid implementation across Government, as the Prime Minister recently insisted must happen."

A Government spokesperson said: "Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.

"We do not accept the premise because there is no “single sex spaces tsar” being hired. The position clearly sets out that this role is not a senior civil service one.

"Instead it is a policy official who will work on a broad portfolio – including ensuring we deliver and comply with the UK Supreme Court ruling.

"When it comes to the Equality Act, it is important that policy work is looked at in the round – not in silos – to ensure we are delivering on the ruling first and foremost."