by Ashley Cowburn

Government delays in publishing a long-awaited consultation into reforming transgender rights have allowed “hate to fester”, according to the shadow women and equalities minister.

Speaking in the Commons, Victoria Atkins, the women and equalities minister, was unable to confirm when the government would publish the results of the consultation on reforms to the Gender Recognition Act.

She said Boris Johnson’s administration was looking “carefully and methodically” at the findings of the survey adding: “We are clear that we want to protect trans adults’ rights and protect single-sex spaces for women. We do want to rush this; we want to get it right.”

However, addressing the issue in November 2018 – just after the consultation closed for responses – Ms Atkins said at the time the government would publish the survey in the spring of 2019.

Speaking to The Independent, the shadow equalities minister, Dawn Butler, said the delay was “unacceptable”, adding: “How much longer do we have to wait? “They weaponised the Gender Recognition Act throughout the election campaign. And now in 2020 we still don’t know what we’re doing.” Read more via Independent