The Mayor of Congleton has slammed the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of the word 'woman'.

Kay Wesley, who is also leader of the Equality Party, believes judges got it 'badly wrong' when they decided the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a 'biological woman' and 'biological sex'.

In response, the party is calling on the UK Government to pass new legislation to make it clear that trans people are protected and entitled to live 100 per cent in their acquired gender, protected by both trans and sex discrimination.

In addition, they demand the law recognise intersex, genderfluid and non-binary people, who at the moment have no recognition or protection.

Councillor Wesley said: "This is a major roll-back of human rights, and a judgement based on biased and incorrect assumptions about trans women promoted by 'gender-critical' lobby groups, funded by rich and powerful people and supported by a mostly transphobic national press. The Supreme Court has got this badly wrong.

"The judges refused to allow trans people to attend and have their voices heard. How can such a major decision be made without listening to those most affected? 

"I spoke to a woman this week who has lived as a woman all her adult life. Her friends, colleagues and neighbours do not know she was assigned male sex at birth. Is she to now use gents' toilets and changing rooms? Will she be safe doing so?"

Following the Supreme Court's ruling, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Baroness Falkner, has expressed intent to issue new guidance.

This would mean that in future, only biological women could use single-sex changing rooms and women's toilets, or participate in women-only sporting events and teams, or be placed in women's wards in hospitals.

 Cllr Wesley added: "Violent men dress up as many things – successful businessmen, nice boyfriends, good husbands, the bloke down the pub…there's no evidence that they dress as women. And the problem the government and the judiciary needs to deal with here is male violence.

"What is the government doing about the impact of cultural misogyny and harmful ideas about the roles of men and women that are amplified by social media? Nothing, but they are taking time out to further oppress some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

"Trans women are women, and as such they are themselves at risk from violent men. We should support and protect them, and all women."