Graham Linehan accuses Labour of being 'too scared' of trans activists to roll out single sex guidance

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has accused Labour of being "too frightened" of transgender activists to roll out guidance on single-sex spaces.

Over a year ago, the Supreme Court established that, under equality legislation, sex refers to biology rather than self-identification or possession of a gender recognition certificate.

But Sir Keir Starmer’s Government have been "too frightened” to “stand up for the truth" and implement changes, Mr Linehan has claimed.

Calls to ban biological men who identify as women from female-only spaces, including toilets and changing rooms, have grown significantly in the last 12 months to keep in line with the April 2025 ruling.

The Father Ted co-creator had his conviction for damaging the mobile phone of transgender activist Sophia Brooks overturned following an appeal hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

Women would not see improvement without the Government taking steps to ensure that public bodies, Mr Linehan wrote in The Telegraph.

He said: "The simplest legislative fix is one the Government already has in front of it. Implement the Supreme Court ruling, without delay. The ruling would return us to a position most people in this country have always taken as obvious.

"The reason it isn’t being implemented is that our politicians are too frightened, or too confused, to stand up for the truth."

The Labour Government has vowed to protect single sex spaces in all public bodies, but implementation has been delayed despite campaigners continuing to voice concerns.

The ruling, delivered a year ago, did not establish new legislation but instead clarified the existing legal framework.

Currently, hospitals, businesses and other public facilities are not required to stop transgender women from using women-only spaces.

Mr Linehan added: "Keir Starmer famously said it was wrong to claim that only women have a cervix. David Lammy seemed to think men could actually grow one."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Amsterdam pride nominated to be granted Unesco heritage status
• London beauty spot set to keep 'trans-inclusive' swimming ponds - despite High Court ruling
• Choir dropped from London Marathon over founder's gender-critical views

"We have a political class so terrified of being called bigots by the millennials in their staff that they’re prepared to look completely ridiculous in public.

"I fear nothing will change while such useful idiots are in charge."

The Equality and Human Rights Commission's updated guidance was sent directly to Ms Phillipson, placing responsibility for its release squarely with her department.

The current EHRC chair, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, confirmed that her organisation had revised portions of the guidance following ministerial feedback and returned an amended draft to Ms Phillipson in April.

Ms Phillipson has said of the guidance: "The code will apply across Great Britain and, as we are currently in the pre-election period for the devolved administrations, we are unable to make further announcements on this matter at this time."

The Education Secretary insisted the Government was pursuing "urgent action" to meet its goal of presenting the code to Parliament in May, pledging to do so "as soon as practicable after the election period".

The EHRC has not yet begun updating its workplace code of practice, which has not been revised since 2011.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter