April 26 2025, 08:15 Following prime minister Keir Starmer’s clear-cut statement that he doesn’t believe trans women are women, we gave all 59 out LGBTQ+ Labour MPs the chance to voice their own opinions – here’s who did and didn’t respond, and what they said.
Former self-described “proud ally” Starmer made his current stance clear in a Tuesday (22 April) statement following a Supreme Court decision that argues the legal definition of women in the 2010 Equality Act refers to “biological women” and sex refers to “biological sex.”
Asked by BBC News if he still believed trans women are women, an official spokesperson for Starmer said: “No, the Supreme Court judgement has made clear that, when looking at the Equality Act, a woman is a biological woman.”
His comments have raised already common concerns that Labour has rolled back its historically pro-LGBTQ+ and pro-trans positions, which included the commitment to uphold the rights of trans people, over the past few years under Starmer.
As such, PinkNews asked every single out LGBTQ+ Labour MP currently sitting whether they still believe trans women are women – here’s who responded.
Just four out LGBTQ+ Labour MPs responded saying trans women are women
In a set of comment requests to 59 out LGBTQ+ Labour MPs, PinkNews asked whether the politicians respectively believed that trans women are women and that trans men are men in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.
In the three days after sending the requests for comment, just four – Josh Newbury, Nadia Whittome, Kate Osbourne, and Olivia Blake – responded with on-record comments affirming their commitment that trans people are valid.
Olivia Blake, the MP for Sheffield Hallam, said that her view on the matter “has not changed,” and that she still believes trans women are women and trans men are men.
“I wholeheartedly support the right for transgender and non-binary people to live as the gender they identify with,” she said.
Blake, who came out as bisexual in 2021, also said in the statement that she believes the ruling, which sets a legal precedent within the 2010 Equality Act, “raises more questions that it resolves.”
“I understand the deep concern and fears it has prompted. I’ll continue to raise questions of government about how to protect the rights of transgender community.”
Nottingham East MP, Nadia Whittome, similarly recommitted her already vocal support for the trans community, repeating statements she made during a demonstration in Nottingham that “trans women are women, trans men are men, non-binary people are non-binary.”
“Trans people know better than anyone else who they are – no court ruling can ever change that,” she continued.
“It is also important to note that the court explicitly said that its ruling only relates to the definition of “woman” in the Equality Act and that it is not its role to define “woman” or “man” in other contexts. Those claiming otherwise are either misinformed or deliberately twisting the court’s ruling to their own ends.”
Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East and another vocal supporter of the trans community, reaffirmed her commitment by sharing a pledge she had co-signed as part of Lesbian Visibility Week declaring her “unwavering commitment” to the “dignity, safety, and liberation of lesbian and trans people in all their diversity.”
“In the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling, we reaffirm that the rights of trans people do not conflict with the rights of lesbians. We reject attempts to divide our communities and stand united against all forms of transphobia, lesbophobia and misogyny,” the pledge continued. “Our liberation is bound together. There is no pride in exclusion. No feminism without solidarity.”
Finally, Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury responded saying that his thoughts on the matter are clear: “Trans women are women and trans men are men.”
He went on to say that he feels the Supreme Court was “clear” that the ruling applies simply to the 2010 Equality Act and does not “make a wider judgement on the definition of a woman or man in society.”
“Trans women and trans men have always existed and I am proud of the role the Labour Party has played in ensuring they gained legal and societal recognition,” he continued. “Progress stalled, and then started to reverse, under the last government and I fear that the reaction to this judgement could put rocket boosters under efforts to further demonise, segregate and exclude trans people.
“Trans people just want what many of us take for granted: to be able to live their lives free of discrimination and prejudice. I will always fight for dignity, equality and respect for trans people. I don’t believe that the Supreme Court ruling contradicts that, but that will only be the reality on the ground if those of us in positions of power speak up at this critical time for the survival of trans rights and LGBT+ rights more broadly.”
All out LGBTQ+ Labour MPs who did not respond
The vast majority of out LGBTQ+ Labour MPs that PinkNews contacted did not respond clarifying their position, of the 59 publicly out LGBTQ+ Labour MPs currently in cabinet, 54 did not get back in touch. One, Tipton and Wednesbury MP Antonia Bance, responded but said she had no comment to make.
Here are the LGBTQ+ Labour MPs who did not respond to a comment request asking to clarify their position on whether they believe trans women are women.
- Dan Aldridge – Weston-super-Mare
- James Asser – West Ham and Beckton
- Olivia Bailey – Reading West and Mid Berkshire
- Alex Barros-Curtis – Cardiff West
- Danny Beales – Uxbridge and South Ruislip
- Clive Betts – Sheffield South East
- Polly Billington – East Thanet
- Chris Bryant – Rhondda and Ogmore
- David Burton-Sampson – Southend West and Leigh
- Dan Carden – Liverpool Walton
- Sam Carling – North West Cambridgeshire
- Ben Coleman – Chelsea and Fulham
- Jacob Collier – Burton and Uttoxeter
- Deirdre Costigan – Ealing Southall
- Ashley Dalton – est Lancashire
- Stephen Doughty – Cardiff South and Penarth
- Angela Eagle – Wallasey
- Damien Egan – Bristol Norh East
- Alan Gemmell – Central Ayrshire
- Tracy Gilbert – Edinburgh North and Leith
- Nia Griffith – Llanelli
- Lloyd Hatton – South Dorset
- Tom Hayes – Bournemouth East
- Terry Jermy – South West Norfolk
- Gerald Jones – Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
- Lillian Jones – Kilmarnock and Loudoun
- Peter Kyle – Hove and Portslade
- Kim Leadbeater – Spen Valley
- Simon Lightwood – Wakefield and Rothwell
- Josh MacAlister – Whitehaven and Workington
- Keir Mather – Selby
- Martin McCluskey – Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West
- Kevin McKenna – Sittingbourne and Sheppey
- Stephen Morgan – Portsmouth South
- Luke Murphy – Basingstoke
- James Murray – Ealing North
- Chris Murray – Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
- Luke Myer – Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
- Charlotte Nichols – Warrington north
- Tris Osbourne – Chatham and Aylesford
- Andrew Pakes – Peterborough
- Michael Payne – Gedling
- Luke Pollard – Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
- Steve Race – Exeter
- Steve Reed – Streatham and Croydon North
- Martin Rhodes – Glasgow North
- Tim Roca – Macclesfield
- Tom Rutland – East Worthing and Shoreham
- Cat Smith – Lancaster and Wyre
- Wes Streeting – Ilford North
- Alan Strickland – Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
- Peer Swallow – Bracknell
- Rachel Taylor – North Warwickshire and Bedworth
- Matt Turmaine – Watford
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