Supreme Court gender ruling 'significant for services'

The UK Supreme Court's ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law will have "significant implications for public services", Eluned Morgan has said.

The first minister said her government would act "with respect, compassion and kindness", but that it took the court's judgement "seriously".

"We will take our time now to work through the implications of this," she told the Senedd.

"There are significant implications for public services."

She added: "We will work through that and obviously we will report later on in the summer."

Facing MSs at her first question time since the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling, Morgan cited the comments of Lord Hodge who said it was not a triumph for one group over another.

Morgan said the government acknowledged "there's a lot of fear and uncertainty in many places".

In a separate written statement, the Welsh government said it "respects the decision of the Supreme Court" and will "take the steps required to meet our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 as clarified by the ruling".

"Discrimination and harassment against all people with one or more protected characteristics are neither legal, nor in any way acceptable," it added.

Conservative MS Laura Anne Jones said the court's ruling was "a victory for women and girls across Wales, and for common sense".

"In the years I've tried this has never been about anti-anybody, despite the smears," she said.

"It is about protecting women and girls and ensuring fairness."

She said the Welsh government's written statement was a "welcome turn around from this Labour government, albeit through gritted teeth".

Labour MS Hannah Blythyn said: "I have been approached in the last week and a half by many members of the LGBTQ+ community who are both tearful and fearful about the consequences of what this might mean for them."

As part of its LGBTQ+ action plan, the Welsh government has previously said it will provide guidance for schools on supporting trans children.

But the government now says: "The consultation has been delayed to ensure the draft guidance is fully informed by emerging evidence and is taken forward in a way that is sensitive to the needs of children and young people and also reflects the voices of parents."