Trans and LGBTQ+ rights organisations call for Parliamentary Scrutiny of forthcoming EHRC Code of Practice
– 2 min read
More than 80 trans and LGBTQ+ rights organisations have signed a joint statement urging MPs to demand full scrutiny and debate over the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) forthcoming Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations.
The statement, released on 1 September, warns that the proposed Code - expected to be laid before Parliament by Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson - could come into force automatically 40 days after publication, without any parliamentary debate or vote. This process, known as the "negative procedure," has sparked widespread concern over democratic accountability and human rights protections.
Writing on social media, Trans Pride Hastings, one of the signatories, said: "We at Trans Pride Hastings have signed a joint letter to MPs demanding full Parliamentary scrutiny of the EHRC’s new Code of Practice. If passed unchecked, it risks huge harm to rights and protections.
Together, we can push for accountability and stop rights being stripped without debate.
"We’re also calling on individuals to act. Use this template to email your MP, share your concerns, and demand proper scrutiny, debate and a free vote on the EHRC Code. Every voice counts. We need this message to reach every MP and every community. Please share this widely - organisations have spoken, and now individuals must be heard too. Together, we can push for accountability and stop rights being stripped without debate."
Critics argue that the draft Code sets out a framework for exclusion and segregation, particularly targeting trans individuals. It could result in trans people being barred from gendered spaces aligned with their identity, such as toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards, and even social groups like book clubs and yoga classes. The guidance has been described by some as a potential “bigot’s charter,” with fears it could legitimise discrimination and vigilantism.
People are already limiting the scope of their lives out of well-justified fear.
The joint statement highlights the risks of humiliation, forced outing, and violence already being experienced by both trans and cisgender individuals in places where the draft Code has been prematurely implemented. It also raises legal and logistical concerns for businesses and public bodies, with professional associations and UN human rights experts questioning the Code’s compatibility with existing human rights law.
“This is not hypothetical,” the statement reads. “People are already limiting the scope of their lives out of well-justified fear.”
The coalition is calling on MPs to write to the Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, and the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, demanding that the Code be subject to full parliamentary oversight, including a meaningful debate and a free vote. They argue that any policy change with such profound implications for human rights must not be enacted by ministerial fiat.
