Closed petition: Public inquiry into public bodies' Equality Act interpretation

Closed on 17 January 2026

We believe the Government should commission a public inquiry into how public bodies adopted policies in relation to the Equality Act 2010. The interpretation of the Act was clarified by the Supreme Court.

The inquiry should review external advocacy influence, any governance failures, and consider safeguards to ensure lawful policy.

On 16 Apr 2025, the Supreme Court confirmed the definition of sex under the Equality Act 2010.

Many public bodies and other institutions had adopted policies that were inconsistent with this, which we believe were shaped by external advocacy, consultancy and lobbying.

We believe an inquiry must investigate policies, contracts, governance failures, and ensure those responsible are held accountable, with enforceable legal safeguards to prevent future similar situations.