MPs call on government to 'protect safety' of 'brave' women who won Supreme Court gender battle after 'appalling attacks' (2025)

MPs and campaigners have called out the 'death threats' and 'misogynistic abuse' of women who won Supreme Court legal battle

MPs have said it is 'disgraceful' that campaigners who brought a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman are facing 'death threats'.

The UK's highest court ruled on Wednesday (April 16) that the legal definition of a woman in the 2010 Equality Act should be based on biological sex, meaning that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'.

The government said the unanimous decision by five judges at the Supreme Court brought 'clarity and confidence' for women and service providers.

The decision stemmed from a legal dispute in Scotland brought by the campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS). It called on the court to find sex an 'immutable biological state' and argued that sex-based protections should only apply to people born female.

Campaigners outside the Supreme Court celebrated after the unanimous decision. Trina Budge, director of FWS, described the outcome as a 'victory for women's rights'. She told Sky News the case was 'never about trans rights; as transgender people are 'fully protected in law'.

The three women who spearheaded the legal battle – Marion Calder, Susan Smith, and Trina Budge – have been hit by abuse in the wake of the Supreme Court decision, the Express reports.

Tory shadow women's minister Mims Davies said: "The brave women behind For Women Scotland won a landmark victory in the Supreme Court.

"But instead of being celebrated, they’ve been met with death threats, vile misogynistic abuse, and appalling attacks on their livelihoods. This is an absolute disgrace. No woman should face hatred for defending our sex-based rights.

"The Labour government must get a grip and act to protect their safety, their voices, and defend their right to speak without fear."

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said it was "disgraceful that these brave women are facing death threats after securing a victory for common sense and women’s rights," according to the Express.

He said: "The Supreme Court ruling was clear and should now be accepted by all. I commend these brave women who fought against SNP lunacy to restore a bit of common sense to the country."

According to Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at the gender-critical Sex Matters, an email sent to the campaign group read: "You’re a group of disgusting murderers and deserve death. God will rip you from your family one day and nobody will mourn you."

Another said: "Your inhumanity makes me vomit. You stupid women should feel deeply ashamed for being so stupid."

For Women Scotland has not yet reported the death threats to Police Scotland, the Express reports.

The ruling means that trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in women’s sports, according to the head of Britain’s equalities watchdog. It could also change the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, which rules that those with a GRC have the legal right to live in their acquired gender.

Trans rights activists have criticised the legal decision, claiming that 'no trans person or organisation was representated in the case'. Trans rights groups therefore protested across England and Scotland on Saturday (April 19), with activists claiming the decision is 'unacceptable'.

"So the protest was organised to put pressure on the government, on the public to act. To be able to secure the rights of transgender people and to secure those protections, we need legislative power and we need lobbying power."

The Metropolitan Police has since appealed for information after seven statues were daubed with graffiti during a trans rights protest in central London on Saturday, with Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell calling the graffiti 'senseless and unacceptable'.

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has also hit out at JK Rowling after she celebrated the Supreme Court victory.

The Harry Potter author, who is a vocal campaigner for women's rights, posted a picture on social media platform X smoking a cigar and holding up a drink.

The 38-year-old actress, who has helped to raise more than £100,000 for a trans charity since last week's ruling, shared a post on Instagram linking to an article with the headline: "This is a new low for JK Rowling."

The post referenced HBO's new Harry Potter TV series as Nicola added: "Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole."