Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives tell every Tory council to implement new single-sex rules 'rapidly' - after Left-wing councils vow to defy guidance because it 'harms' trans people

By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT and GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 00:01, 7 August 2026 | Updated: 00:06, 7 August 2026 The Conservatives have written to every Tory council in the country urging them to implement new rules to protect single-sex spaces without delay. It comes after a group of Left-wing councils warned they will defy the new equality watchdog guidance as they claimed it is 'harmful to the rights of trans people'. Kemi Badenoch's party has slammed the Labour, Lib Dem and Green councils for refusing to follow the law, saying in response that the Tories 'believe in protecting the rights of women and girls'. A letter, seen by the Daily Mail, was sent to every Conservative council leader and Tory group leader on August 7, urging them to ensure 'rapid compliance' with the new guidance. Referring to April 2025's Supreme Court ruling on biological sex, the letter from Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: 'We are asking all Conservative-run councils to ensure the facilities they provide or oversee comply with the law in this area.' It added: 'As a party, we believe in protecting the rights of women and girls to access single-sex spaces and services, and we strongly support full and rapid compliance with this ruling by all local authorities and service providers.' It comes after the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Code of Practice finally came into force this week – almost a year-and-a-half after the landmark Supreme Court judgment. The guidance states that service providers are legally required to enforce single-sex spaces on the basis of biological sex, rather than gender identity. A group of Left-wing councils warned they will defy the new equality watchdog guidance as they claimed it is 'harmful to the rights of trans people'  Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives have written to every Tory council urging them to implement new rules to protect single-sex spaces without delay It applies to any organisation providing services to the public, including shops, gyms, councils, government departments, the NHS, policing, prisons, hotels and restaurants. But the leaders of six London boroughs – Lambeth, Waltham Forest, Southwark, Hackney, Haringey and Lewisham – have said they could resist the EHRC guidance. In an open letter to Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson, the councils made a joint commitment to keep their services 'inclusive' and said 'trans women are women, trans men are men'. They added: 'This will feel like an attack to the countless trans people in our communities who are simply trying to live their lives in safety and wish to be treated with respect.' Mr Hollinrake told the Mail: 'It is pathetic that Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green politicians are putting political posturing ahead of the safety of women and girls in the councils they run. 'It is reckless and dangerous and they should hang their heads in shame. 'Only the Conservatives will ensure that every council under our control fully complies with the law to protect single-sex spaces and safeguard women and girls.' It came as a war of words erupted between Labour women after the MP behind a 'summer of sex' campaign criticised the guidance in a video filmed from her holiday sun lounger. Samantha Niblett described the EHRC code as 'clear as mud' and said: 'All it does is dismiss the lived experience of trans people and protects nobody.' The Derbyshire MP added that future generations would think 'how rubbish politicians were' when they looked at the trans debate, as she claimed that Westminster had failed a minority group. But fellow Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi hit back, telling Ms Niblett: 'Today, we have clarification, not more confusion. Women and girls need protection from men.' Referring to Ms Niblett's 'summer of sex' campaign which suggested that MPs bring sex toys into Parliament, Ms Antoniazzi added: 'Stop using trans people as an argument for your pro-sex work, pro-porn agenda.' A Government spokesman said: 'Everyone should follow the law. The code gives service providers the clear, workable guidance they need and if organisations are still unclear, they should get specialist legal advice.'