Text: "To standardscommissioner@parliament.uk <standardscommissioner@parliament.uk> Dear Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, We are writing to make a formal complaint about remarks made by Suella Braverman MP concerning Steph Richards, a trans woman and Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) holder, in relation to her role with Endometriosis South Coast. In public statements and on social media, Ms Braverman repeatedly referred to Ms Richards as “a man”, described her appointment as “regressive”, and claimed it “erases women” and is “insulting and inappropriate” for her to speak on endometriosis. These comments were not incidental; they involved the deliberate and repeated mischaracterisation of Ms Richards’ legal sex and identity in a manner that was hostile and demeaning.... Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004, a person who holds a full GRC is, 'for all purposes', recognised in their acquired gender. In Ms Richards’ case, she is legally recognised as a woman, and her sex is female in law. The repeated public description of her as “a man” is therefore not simply a matter of opinion or debate, but a denial of her legal status.... In addition, Ms Richards is protected under the Equality Act 2010 by the characteristic of gender reassignment. The Act protects from discrimination and harassment, including conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. Public statements by a senior MP that single out a named trans woman, deny her legal status, and frame her participation as inherently inappropriate are reasonably understood to meet that threshold."
Text: "...The House of Commons Code of Conduct states that “Members have a duty to uphold the law, including the general law against discrimination”, it also requires Members to treat others with “dignity, courtesy and respect”, and that they “shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its Members generally”. Publicly singling out a legally recognised woman and subjecting her to this form of treatment falls well below those standards, particularly given the wider impact such comments have in legitimising hostility towards trans people. The inconsistency of Ms Braverman’s position further underlines the discriminatory nature of the remarks. Men hold roles within organisations such as Breast Cancer UK, and Endometriosis UK itself includes male staff, without comparable objection. Similarly, a woman serves as Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK without controversy, despite not sharing the relevant anatomy. If Ms Braverman holds the belief that Ms Richards is a “man”, then the fact that she has singled her out while overlooking other cisgender men in comparable roles demonstrates that this criticism is not applied consistently, but is instead directed specifically at a trans woman, solely because she is transgender. Taken together, these remarks appear to constitute a misuse of Ms Braverman’s public platform to promote discriminatory and demeaning treatment of a protected group and to undermine the dignity of a named individual. We therefore ask that you investigate whether Ms Braverman’s conduct breaches the House of Commons Code of Conduct, including its requirements to uphold the law, treat individuals with respect, and maintain the reputation of the House. Please confirm receipt of this complaint and advise if any further information is required. Yours faithfully, Trans Advocacy and Complaints Collective"
We have raised a formal complaint with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards regarding discriminatory remarks by Suella Braverman MP, about Steph Richards stepping down from Endometriosis South Coast.
