Labour delays trans guidance until after elections as pressure mounts on Bridget Phillipson

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has postponed the release of new trans guidance, citing purdah restrictions ahead of the Scottish and Welsh elections scheduled for May 7.

The minister argued that publishing the code could influence voting behaviour during the pre-election period, which limits Government announcements.

Detractors have accused Ms Phillipson of prioritising her rumoured aspirations to lead the Labour Party over establishing protected spaces for women in public settings.

The controversy comes as the Government faces mounting pressure to act on the issue.

The dispute has erupted just days before Thursday's first anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark judgement, establishing that trans women do not qualify as women under the Equality Act.

Additionally, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission submitted its revised code of practice to ministers seven months ago, yet the guidance remains unpublished.

The extended timeline has frustrated campaigners who argue that clarity on single-sex spaces has been available for nearly a year following the court's definitive ruling.

The EHRC's updated guidance was sent directly to Ms Phillipson, placing responsibility for its release squarely with her department.

Ms Phillipson said: "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".

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Chancellor to hold talks with US counterpart after he said 'economic pain' from Iran war was 'worth it'

Rachel Reeves is set to meet her US counterpart after he said “a small bit of economic pain” caused by the Iran war was worth it to prevent Tehran getting a nuclear weapon.

The comments by US treasury secretary Scott Bessent put him at odds with the Chancellor, who has gone public with her anger and frustration at the “folly” of America’s actions in the Middle East and its financial fallout on families.

The pair are due to hold face-to-face talks in Washington DC today during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund, and will be dominated by the ongoing crisis in the Gulf, which has inflicted a global economic shock and sent energy prices soaring.