The Liberal Democrats Conference made a significant decision this week. Attendees voted to block a debate. This debate concerned diversity quotas for women. Specifically, one member wanted to exclude trans women. Dr. Zoe Hollowood proposed the motion. She leads the Liberal Democrat Voice for Women group. However, the Liberal Democrats Conference overwhelmingly rejected her request. Consequently, members moved directly to other business.
Dr. Hollowood argued for a policy update. She cited a recent Supreme Court ruling. This ruling defined a woman by biological sex. Therefore, she believed quotas should reflect this. Her motion stated that including trans women might be unlawful. Furthermore, she emphasized protecting free speech. She expressed concern over censorship in the UK. For example, she mentioned Graham Linehan’s arrest. The audience reacted audibly to this point. The conference chair asked for order.
Conversely, Lucas North strongly opposed the motion. North is the treasurer of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. They labeled the proposed debate a “sham”. They argued it misrepresented the legal position. Additionally, they said it contradicted party values. North urged members to reject the motion entirely. They did not want to platform transphobic views. They asked the conference to ditch the debate. This action would prevent legitimizing bigotry.
Notably, all Liberal Democrat MPs left the hall. They did not participate in the vote. A party spokeswoman explained their absence. She said they had a mandatory daily meeting. Therefore, only grassroots members decided the outcome.
Ultimately, the vote proceeded without them. Members supported North’s call by a two-to-one margin. Thus, the conference moved to its next agenda item. Dr. Hollowood’s motion received no discussion. She expressed disappointment afterward. Also, she felt her arguments were suppressed. She warned against the dangers of censorship.
Later, leader Sir Ed Davey addressed the situation. He denied that his party fears difficult conversations. Also,he referenced a previous debate from March. He stated his party follows the law. He also expressed regret if some members felt upset. However, he defended the conference’s decision. He believes the Liberal Democrats engage thoughtfully with complex issues. The Liberal Democrats Conference concluded without further incident.
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