Health secretary James Murray: I would no longer say trans women are women

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By Aine Fox, PA Media

Health secretary James Murray said it is “absolutely clear” that single-sex spaces within the NHS should be “protected on the basis of sex” as he confirmed he would no longer use the phrase “trans women are women”.

Murray, who was appointed to the role last month after the resignation of Wes Streeting, said he recognises that “sex and gender are different things”.

He said he had thought “in quite some detail” about use of language, when it was put to him that he had in the past stated that “trans women are women”.

Asked if he had changed his mind, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yeah, I have changed what I would say. I wouldn’t say that phrase any more.

“Over the last few years, I think a lot of us, myself included, have thought about this question in quite some detail.

“The Supreme Court has obviously ruled very clearly that biological sex is what matters when it comes to the Equality Act, and determining the importance of single-sex spaces.”