Council votes against single-sex spaces motion
LDRSCross-party councillors rejected a plea for single-sex spaces across council buildings and services.
The motion, tabled by Conservative and Reform councillors, called on Darlington Borough Council to protect women's "privacy, dignity and safety", but was slammed by campaigners for being "anti-trans and discriminatory".
Councillors were told, if approved, the opposition plea would place members of the transgender community at "increased risk of harm".
Labour and Green Party members vowed to protect the area's LGBTQ+ community by refusing the motion on Thursday.
Conservative leader Jonathan Dulston had urged the council to implement recent Supreme Court rulings to ensure local policies aligned with the Equality Act 2010's legal definition of sex.
In April 2025, the Supreme Court ruled the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex.
In January this year, an employment tribunal found County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust had violated the dignity of a group of female nurses who complained about a transgender woman using their changing room.
'Harmful narrative'
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Dulston told a previous council meeting: "Women and girls should be able to use toilets, changing rooms and care services with privacy, dignity and safety.
"That's not controversial, that's just the basics for what the vast majority of people in Darlington should expect."
The Eastbourne councillor was supported by Reform's Michael Walker, who suggested the council formed a specialist group of councillors, stakeholders and legal experts to review all council provision and ensure the lawful use of single-sex services.
Facing criticism from across the council chamber, Dulston added: "There is no councillor in this chamber who has done more for the LGBT community than me."
But the move was heavily criticised by the Labour and Liberal Democrat-led administration, with one councillor saying the plea belonged in the 17th Century.
Labour councillor Libby McCollom, cabinet member for stronger communities, said: "The cruel and harmful narrative pedalled by councillors Dulston and Walker in this motion frames transgender and non-binary people as a danger to women.
"There is no evidence that this is true.
"I am really thankful to councillor Dulston for showing that the nasty party is still alive and well in the Conservative group."
More than 500 people signed a petition set up by the Darlington for Justice campaign group ahead of the meeting, urging councillors to reject the motion.
Councillor Matthew Snedker, Green Party leader, said: "I'm really proud that we have pulled together and held the line against a Reform Trojan horse motion.
"Every person in this town deserves the best.
"We will work to that and protect you."
