Over a quarter of trans people likely to leave UK amid rising hostility
– 2 min read
A new YouGov poll undertaken between 23 July and 11 August 2025 has revealed that more than a quarter of trans adults in the UK are considering leaving the country within the next decade, citing an increasingly hostile environment and erosion of rights. The survey, commissioned by the Good Law Project, found that 26% of trans adults said they were either “fairly likely” or “very likely” to emigrate in the next ten years, with the figure rising to 38% among those aged 18 to 24.
The findings come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex, a decision that has sparked widespread concern among trans communities. Critics argue that the judgment has emboldened organisations to implement exclusionary policies, particularly in single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms.
Campaigners warn that this climate of fear is driving what some describe as a “brain drain” of trans talent. Victoria McCloud, a former judge and founder of the Trans Exile Network, said: “We have a lot of scared people who are leaving the country. They’re scared, but they’re also highly talented – the cream of the crop in sectors like AI and computer programming.”
We have a lot of scared people who are leaving the country.
International organisations are already reporting a surge in requests for help. Dutch NGO Trans Rescue claims it has seen a 40-fold increase in British trans people seeking assistance to leave the UK, comparing the situation to countries such as Yemen and Afghanistan in terms of refugee outflows.
The poll also highlights a deep mistrust of UK institutions among trans respondents: only 9% expressed confidence in the Labour Party, and nearly nine in ten young trans people said they have little or no trust in the police.
Advocates argue that urgent action is needed to reverse what they describe as systemic attacks on trans rights. Without intervention, they warn, the UK risks losing not only members of a vulnerable community but also highly skilled professionals across science, technology, law and finance.
For Good Law Project’s trans rights lead, Jess O’Thomson, the poll of 457 adults comes as no surprise. “The UK is going backwards - and skilled young people can see it,” O’Thomson said “Why should trans people build their lives in a country which continues to demonstrate its hostility? Unless the government takes urgent action, the threat won’t just be to trans people’s human rights, but also to our economy as we make life harder for business, and drive talent away.”
