Lib Dems reject debate on blocking trans women from diversity quotas

The Liberal Democrats blocked a motion to debate removing trans women from the party’s diversity quotas during their annual conference in Bournemouth. Dr Zoe Hollowood, a member of the campaign group Liberal Democrat Voice for Women, had urged a debate and a binding vote on updating party policy in light of a Supreme Court ruling that a woman should be defined by biological sex. But Lucas North, treasurer of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, argued that the motion was a sham and urged conference-goers to reject the idea that trans identities are up for debate. In a 2-to-1 vote, North’s position won out, and the motion was ditched. The Lib Dem MPs in the hall did not vote in the ballot, the party said, because they had to attend their daily morning meeting at the Bournemouth conference centre.

Hollowood’s motion argued that women are underrepresented across the party and that positive action through diversity quotas remains necessary. It asserted that trans women should not be included in quotas reserved for women on the basis that they are biological males and that self-identification is not recognised by law. The motion stated that “Returning males into vacancies expressly reserved for females would be unlawful.” Yet North contended that the motion was not only unnecessary but a misrepresentation of the legal position and a risk to the party’s values. He said the conference should not be used to legitimise bigotry and urged members to vote down the proposal, or better yet, remove it from the agenda entirely to avoid giving a platform to views he characterised as anti-LGBT+.

Opposing the move to suppress debate, Hollowood urged members to resist silencing disagreement and to argue their case in the open. She warned that free speech was under pressure in the UK and cited the recent arrest of comedy writer Graham Linehan as part of her argument that people should be able to hear and challenge differing viewpoints. Audience tensions surfaced as Hollowood made her case, with shouts and groans from attendees before the conference chair reminded participants to settle down.

Hollowood noted that there is already a separate quota for trans identities and pressed the conference to demonstrate that the party respects the law, equality, women’s rights, and free speech. Asked afterward why the motion had been removed from the agenda, party home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said that “party members will do what party members will do.” When pressed for further detail, she added, “You will have to ask the people who put down the procedural motion.”

The episode underscored ongoing tensions within the Liberal Democrats over how to balance gender-diversity policy with legal definitions of sex and the party’s commitments to LGBT+ rights. While the conference did not change policy on quotas, the debate highlighted differences over the scope of diversity measures and how they relate to constitutional protections and social tolerance. The party has long positioned itself as a pro-LGBT+ advocate, but internal discussions about gender identity and representation continue to surface in public forums as the party navigates a shifting landscape on trans rights and anti-discrimination law.

The Bournemouth event concluded with no policy change on the matter, and the party signaled that it would continue to pursue inclusive practices while remaining mindful of legal definitions and the broader rights framework. The clash at the conference reflected a broader national conversation about how best to ensure representation and equality in political organizations while avoiding perceptions of exclusivity or censorship. As Lib Dems look ahead to future policy work, the balance between free speech, women’s rights, and LGBT+ protections remains a focal point of internal debate.