Reform to punish councils that flout Supreme Court ruling on single-sex spaces

By GABRIEL MILLARD-CLOTHIER, POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 22:04, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 22:23, 8 August 2026 Reform UK has vowed to slash funding for councils that don’t protect single-sex spaces. Robert Jenrick has told The Mail on Sunday town halls can ‘wave goodbye to taxpayers’ money’ if they don’t uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling that came into force last week. Left-wing Lambeth Council in London confirmed it will defy the new rules which state services must be provided according to biological sex, not the gender someone identifies as. Mr Jenrick, Reform’s treasury spokesman, said: ‘A Reform UK Government won’t tolerate this nonsense. If councils won’t abide by the law and respect women-only spaces, they can wave goodbye to taxpayers’ money. ‘Women and girls across the country must know their rights under the law will always be protected. We will stop at nothing to ensure our agenda is delivered.’ Women’s rights campaigners hailed the guidance as a victory. The leaders of five other London boroughs have committed to keeping their services ‘inclusive’ and warned the new rules ‘feel like an attack’ on transgender people. Reform will make implementing the rules mandatory as part of Local Government Finance Settlements if they get into power. This £90billion pot is the way central government distributes taxes, grants and sets business rates. It is the main revenue stream for councils across the country. Last night a Government spokesman said: ‘Everyone should follow the law. The rules give service providers the clear, workable guidance they need.’ Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick announced that a future Reform UK government would strip central government funding (£90bn Local Government Finance Settlement) from councils refusing to protect single-sex spaces based on biological sex The announcement arrives ahead of a Thursday vote in Clacton-on-Sea, triggered by Nigel Farage’s resignation over financial scrutiny. The race features a record-breaking 3-foot-long ballot with 34 candidates Reform also pledged it will withhold funds from councils that refuse to co-operate with Home Office immigration raids – as Lewisham Council last month stated. One Reform source said the party is ‘expecting lots more of this – Lefty councils trying to subvert the stuff we care about’. Mr Jenrick’s announcement comes days before the Clacton-on-Sea by-election which has a record 34 candidates standing. Voters will use the longest ballot paper in British electoral history. The 3ft ballot includes 20 independents and Count Binface who wants to ban the eating of noisy snacks in cinemas and scrap VAR in football. Polls will close in Essex this Thursday after a campaign triggered by Reform leader Nigel Farage resigning his seat over scrutiny into his finances. He billed it as an ‘establishment versus the people’ election. Critics warned it may backfire but Mr Farage is still expected to win.