Mick Hartley

Bristol city council, under the Greens, has criticised the Supreme Court ruling that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, the words “woman” and “man” refer to sex at birth. Last month a number of Green councillors paraded out of a public meeting clutching their trans placards, after concerns were raised about women’s safety in single-sex spaces. They’re councillors – they’re the ones in power who should be listening to the public – but when it comes to trans rights there can be no debate.

And now:

Bristol city council has banned two gender-critical women from stepping foot in City Hall after they asked Green Party councillors if the Supreme Court judgment on trans identity was “offensive or transphobic”.

The council alleged the questioning of the two councillors in the public lobby after a heated council meeting last month, in which Green councillors staged walkouts and held trans rights placards, was carried out “in a way that they found intimidating”.

It’s always this snowflake defence. Trans supporters can’t deal with any questioning of their beliefs. No debate.

The council has banned Wendy Stephenson, chair of the council’s independent remuneration panel, and Phoebe Beedell, a retired academic researcher, from attending any council meetings for six months because of their “unacceptable behaviour”.

Unacceptable? Asking questions of elected council members? Did they threaten them with big sticks or shout obscenities? I don’t think so. These are two responsible elderly women.

Stephenson was told she had failed to “uphold the highest standards of behaviour” and had her appointments terminated as chair and panel member of the remuneration panel, a position she had held for seven years.

Beedell and Stephenson, who are members of The Women of Wessex campaign group, are threatening legal action against the council unless the action taken against them is revoked.

Good luck to them.