Responding to the announcement that former Sex Matters Trustee Tim Allan has been appointed Executive Director of Communications for No 10, Stonewall CEO Simon Blake OBE said:
“We wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer this week to express our grave concerns about the appointment of Tim Allan as the new Executive Director of Communications to No 10 Downing Street.
“While undoubtedly a Labour communications veteran, Mr Allan was also, until his appointment on 1 September, a trustee of Sex Matters.
“Right now, the atmosphere surrounding LGBTQ+ rights is more heightened and the whole LGBTQ+ community - particularly trans people – are feeling deeply worried, uncertain and increasingly isolated.
“Mr Allan’s appointment, with responsibility for overseeing the tone, tenor and nature of the Government’s communications machinery, raises questions about how the government will deliver its manifesto commitment to “remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and respect.” We urge the Government to re-build trust with the LGBTQ+ community, from a basis of honesty and transparency.”
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The UK Supreme Court judgment on 16 April 2025 ruled the legal definition of a ‘woman’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex, leaving many trans people feeling deeply worried and uncertain. Many organisations and service providers are unsure about what this means for them.