L

Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 3 June 2026

Debate

Equality Act 2010: Code of Practice

Contribution

I come back to my original response. The idea that somebody is making a judgment because of the way someone is dressed or looks is inappropriate. I think it is pretty obvious if a man goes into a women’s toilet by error or sometimes due to absolute need—which I have done, once, although I was told quite quickly, “This is not the place for you”. But common sense applies here. I have spent my life with the LGBT community and have spent my life visiting and participating in parties in clubs and bars where there is a whole range of people, whether feminine men or masculine women. We should not be making a judgment on that. It is British common sense which will apply in the application of this code. The idea that someone is told that they cannot use a toilet because they look a particular way is not very British.

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