A former mayor of Congleton has condemned the 'cruel' exclusion of trans women and girls from the Women's Institute and Girlguiding.

The Equality Party has expressed 'concern and disappointment' after the two community organisations confirmed changes to their membership.

It follows the UK Supreme Court's judgement earlier this year that the words 'woman' and 'girl' in the Equality Act 2010 refer only to biological sex.

Leader of the Equality Party Kay Wesley, a current Congleton town councillor and former mayor, said: "Girlguiding and the Women's Institute did not make these changes by choice.

"They were coerced by rich lobbyists threatening legal action, and those gender-critical lobbyists are not interested in the wellbeing of girls and women — they are just determined to exclude trans women."

Kay Wesley, leader of the Equality Party and former Mayor of Congleton (Credit: Equality Party)

On December 2, Girlguiding's board of trustees announced that trans girls and young women, and others not recorded female at birth, will no longer be able to join Girlguiding as new young members.

The board cited detailed considerations and legal advice following the Supreme Court's ruling, and said the decision was made 'with a heavy heart'.

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Meanwhile, the National Federation of Women's Institutes announced that from April 2026, it will no longer legally offer formal membership to transgender women, expressing 'utmost regret and sadness.'

The WI maintains it still believes transgender women are women and intends to create alternative forms of fellowship outside of formal membership.

Previous to the Supreme Court's decision, the WI had welcomed transgender women in its membership for more than 40 years.

Councillor Wesley added: "As a result of these decisions by the largest girls' and women's organisations in the UK, we now have a situation where trans boys will be eligible to join Girlguiding, and trans men will be eligible to join the Women's Institute, as they were assigned female at birth.

"Is that what the Supreme Court intended? I doubt it."

Intersectional equality lead, Abby Smith (Credit: Equality Party)

According to the Equality Party, trans women are statistically as likely to be victims of men's violence as other women and are vulnerable to discrimination and harm.

Intersectional equality lead, Abby Smith, said: "At its heart, this is a bad decision that will hurt some of the most vulnerable girls and women in our society.

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"It has been forced on these previously-inclusive organisations by people who think hate is a solution to our problems."

Ms Smith questions how these changes will be policed, calling the policy 'cruel' and 'unworkable.'