In the wake of a landmark Supreme Court ruling defining gender by biological sex, the United Kingdom and Ireland have become a battleground for debates over trans rights, women’s rights, and the direction of progressive politics. The past week saw pivotal developments: a historic presidential victory in Ireland, a shake-up in Labour’s leadership, dramatic protests outside the Scottish Parliament, and institutions like the BBC scrambling to adapt to new legal realities. The result? A complex, often contentious, but undeniably crucial moment for equality and democracy on both sides of the Irish Sea.
On October 25-26, 2025, Catherine Connolly swept to victory in Ireland’s presidential election, capturing 63 percent of the vote—the highest margin in the nation’s electoral history, according to GCN. Connolly’s campaign centered on progressive values, social justice, and bodily autonomy, with strong support for LGBTQ+ rights. Her platform resonated with voters seeking a unifying figure in turbulent times. “I believe the president should be a unifying presence—a steady hand, yes, but also a spark,” Connolly said earlier this fall, as quoted by GCN. “A reminder of what is possible. A moral compass in a world increasingly driven by profit and spectacle.”
Connolly’s commitment to LGBTQ+ issues was a centerpiece of her campaign. She consistently advocated for marriage equality and the repeal of restrictive laws, framing her politics around dignity and care. While the Irish presidency is largely ceremonial, the office has historically shaped public discourse and acted as a bellwether for national sentiment. Connolly’s landslide win is widely seen as a signal that progressive values remain deeply rooted in Irish society, even as reactionary currents surge elsewhere.
Meanwhile, across the Irish Sea, the political climate is far more unsettled. In the United Kingdom, the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling—defining women by biological sex rather than gender identity—has sent shockwaves through government, media, and civil society. The decision, which sided with For Women Scotland’s appeal against Scottish Government guidance allowing men who identify as women to hold women-only board positions, has forced institutions to rethink their policies and language. According to the BBC, the broadcaster paused its ‘LGBTQ+ Allies’ and ‘Trans Insights’ diversity training courses on October 27, 2025, to ensure compliance with the ruling. Other training programs, such as ‘BBC and You’ and ‘Inclusive Leadership training,’ have been revised to remove references to gender self-identification and preferred pronouns.
A BBC spokesperson explained, “We are not rowing back on our inclusivity training—we have simply paused two of our courses while we await final guidance from the Government following the Supreme Court ruling. Once we have this, we’ll ensure our training and the language it uses are updated to meet any legal obligations.” The broadcaster emphasized its intent to comply with the law while respecting the rights of all staff and visitors. For Women Scotland’s co-director, Susan Smith, welcomed the pause but urged transparency and strict adherence to the Supreme Court’s definition, noting longstanding concerns about “the level of capture which gender identity ideology has achieved in the purportedly unbiased BBC.”
The legal and cultural turmoil has spilled into the streets. Over the weekend of October 25-26, campaigners gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to mark 199 days since the Supreme Court’s ruling, demanding its full implementation after months of governmental delays. According to the Daily Mail, radical trans activists organized a counter-protest at the same time and place, armed with megaphones, drums, and a PA system loud enough to require earplugs for their own supporters. The group Resisting Transphobia Edinburgh promoted the counter-protest online, instructing participants to avoid police and media exposure while providing welfare support, including masks, snacks, and mental health first aid.
Women Won’t Wheesht, a grassroots group advocating for women’s rights, condemned the counter-protesters’ tactics as intimidation and disruption. “Their usual tactics are to use fear, intimidation and violence. Their sole purpose is to stop women speaking and to stop women being heard,” a spokeswoman told the Daily Mail. The group called on Police Scotland to ensure the safety and freedom of peaceful assembly. The situation echoed a similar demonstration in September, where gender-critical campaigners were drowned out by loud music, prompting the Scottish Police Authority to review police handling of such protests.
Inside the political arena, the Labour Party is embroiled in its own internal reckoning. On October 25, 2025, Lucy Powell was elected deputy leader of the party, succeeding Angela Rayner after a heated contest against Bridget Phillipson. Powell, who won with 87,407 votes, has positioned herself as a champion of both women’s and trans rights. She sharply criticized the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) draft guidance on single-sex spaces, calling it “not right” and advocating for a “robust and transparent parliamentary conversation” on the issue. Powell’s stance stands in contrast to the stricter interpretation favored by her opponent, who emphasized the need to protect single-sex spaces based on biological sex, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Powell’s message to party members was unequivocal: “I’m a woman, I’m a feminist and I see absolutely no contradiction in being a woman and also supporting the trans community to feel included and to have their rights as well,” she said, as reported by PINK News. “That is something I will strongly support as deputy leader in all the ways that I can and I’m happy to work with you on that.” She also stressed the importance of a Parliament that reflects the country’s diversity, stating, “If we are to restore trust in politics, we need a Parliament which properly reflects the country we serve.”
Yet, Labour’s leadership faces mounting distrust from the public and within its own ranks. Nearly 50 Labour MPs wrote an open letter last week opposing upcoming government regulations expected to codify anti-trans discrimination, describing the proposed rules as “a nightmarish maze of governmental oppression” that would push trans people out of public life and burden businesses with enforcement. According to a recent YouGov poll, 62 percent of UK respondents do not trust the Labour Party, with only 15 percent finding it trustworthy; among the trans community, distrust soars to 91 percent, as reported by the GoodLaw Project.
In sharp contrast, the UK Green Party, under the new leadership of Zack Polanski since September 2025, has seen its popularity surge. The party’s membership has more than doubled, and polls now show the Greens nearly matching Labour in popularity. Polanski, who has been outspoken in support of transgender people and critical of rising right-wing extremism, told supporters after the Supreme Court decision, “We must stand resolute, determined in this moment and support our trans siblings unconditionally.” The Guardian’s Owen Jones described the Greens’ ascent as nothing short of a “political phenomenon.”
As the UK and Ireland grapple with the fallout from judicial rulings, shifting political tides, and street-level activism, one thing is clear: the struggle over how best to balance rights, inclusion, and identity is far from settled. The coming months are likely to see further debate, protest, and—perhaps—new paths toward reconciliation and progress.
