YouGov poll commissioned by the Good Law Project reveals 91% of trans respondents distrust Labour on trans rights
– 2 min read
A new YouGov poll commissioned by the Good Law Project has revealed a stark crisis of trust among trans people in the Labour Party and key public institutions, including the police, judiciary, and the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
The survey, conducted between 23 July and 11 August 2025, found that 91% of trans respondents distrust Labour on trans rights, with only a marginal difference from the Conservative Party, which scored 96%. This contrasts sharply with YouGov’s broader tracker showing that 62% of the general public view Labour as untrustworthy.
[Labour] has lined up alongside the Tories and Reform UK at the cruelty Olympics.
The poll comes at a pivotal moment, as Labour’s deputy leadership race narrows to Lucy Powell and Bridget Phillipson, the current women and equalities minister. Phillipson has faced criticism for endorsing a strict interpretation of a recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of “woman,” stating the government is “working to protect single-sex spaces based on biological sex.” Her stance has alarmed trans rights advocates, who argue it legitimises exclusionary policies.
The EHRC, which issued interim guidance following the ruling, has since withdrawn it under legal pressure from the Good Law Project. However, many organisations had already implemented policies based on the guidance, contributing to the erosion of trust. 60% of trans respondents said they distrust the EHRC.
Other Labour policies have also drawn criticism, including Wes Streeting’s ban on puberty blockers and the party’s retreat from a previous pledge to simplify gender recognition processes.
Jo Maugham, executive director of the Good Law Project, said Labour’s shift represents a betrayal: “Labour knows the jeopardy trans people endure. Before the election it promised to ‘remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance’. But in government it has lined up alongside the Tories and Reform UK at the cruelty Olympics.”
Trans adults in the UK waiting at least a third of their lives to access gender-affirming healthcare through the NHS
New data has revealed that many trans adults across the UK are waiting up to a third of their lives - or longer - to access gender-affirming healthcare through the NHS. A joint investigation by QueerAF, What the Trans?, and Claire’s Trans Talks, based on Freedom of Information requests,
Graham Robson
The poll of 457 trans, non-binary, and intersex adults paints a bleak picture of institutional trust. Only 25% trust the police, and 31% trust judges and the legal system. Trust in the police has nearly halved since 2022, when it stood at 41%.
The NHS emerged as the only institution with majority trust, with 72% of respondents expressing confidence in it, despite 59% reporting difficulties accessing healthcare. A recent QueerAF report found that many trans people wait more than a third of their adult lives for a first appointment at an NHS gender clinic.
