This is Northumberland Calling 22.5.26

The finally the EHRC guidance is laid with the resulting sound and fury signifying nothing edition

Hello America (especially Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling.

259 days after it was first submitted, over a year since the FWS decision, two months since the judicial review said the withdrawn interim guidance was lawful, and basically a minute before parliament went into its Whitsun recess, Bridget Philipson laid the updated EHRC guidance before parliament. Basically she lit the touch paper and buggered off. The screams from a certain sector have been loud indeed. The Times article shows what a coward Philipson is as she sought to blame Baroness Falkner who was suffering from Stage 4 cancer at the time and her team for the delay. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/single-sex-spaces-biological-sex-transgender-ppfcxx3qx or https://archive.ph/BQT5e

The big change Philipson wanted was on associations – can you have more than one protected characteristic say a group for Muslim women only. Or an umbrella group for LGBT+ ? The answer appears to be yes, but it must be stated as such and the action must be a proportionate way to achieve a legitimate aim. That area is a messy part of the law. For example, would it be proportionate to exclude Jews from an interfaith gathering? However, if something says or implies it is single sex (aka for women only or a secure male psych ward) it must be single sex.

This is the 394 page guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-draft-code-of-practice-for-services-public-functions-and-associations-2026

The male psych ward remark is because a horrific case where a biological female who identified as a man was put in a secure all male psych ward came to light this week. Within minutes the female was raped in a closet and the NHS trust tried to cover it up, including allowing an innocent man to be tried for rape. Single sex spaces are not just toilets or changing rooms. And this fact is very hard for people to get their heads around. Toilets are used as a proxy because people go – there are lockable doors. Single sex spaces for safety includes places where people are more vulnerable such as secure psych wards, communal changing rooms, or dormitory accommodation are ignored as the mantra has been I just want to pee in peace. Once you notice the activists’ sleight of hand, it becomes obvious what is happening and why.

It is important because Andy Burnham, the man who would be the next Prime Minister if he can win in Makerfield believes that transwomen are women and should be allowed everywhere. He believed only a small minority believed the opposite. (He has obviously not read the recent polling) He has not commented on the secure psych ward case. (Did Philipson lay the guidance as a help to Starmer because Burnham is weak on this issue? Personally I don’t think she is bright enough. She had to lay it or she’d have misled Parliament). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/21/andy-burnhams-trans-virtue-signalling/ or https://archive.ph/K1jy7

There was a great exchange by Trevor Phillips who basically wrote the Equality Act and is now a broadcaster and Akua Reindorf KC who was part of Falkner’s team. His opening monologue about why self id was explicitly rejected in the framing of the legislation (about 3 minutes long) and the next 24 minutes are well worth a listen https://www.thetimes.com/radio/show/20260521-33554/2026-05-21

Angela Rayner has become embroiled in a row about election fraud. In her local area, Labour invented several independent candidates (one of the phantom candidates denied ever standing) to split the vote and let Labour in. The ward where it was done was the only ward to return a Labour candidate. The rest of the candidates went to Reform. Five people have been arrested and Rayner has denied involvement. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/21/five-arrested-in-tameside-over-local-election-fraud/ or https://archive.ph/PcmDo

Getting into the Premiership is a massive deal for football clubs. The money incentive is huge. Southampton decided to cheat and film their rivals’ practices. The filming probably included the taking of penalties, corners, free kicks, other set pieces. You know what the formation means , then you have an advantage. They were rumbled and have been expelled from the Championship final which will now be between Hull and Middlesborough (Hull is expected to win as the Borough don’t have the strikers). The English Football League could only go after the club. The Football Association has signaled that it will investigate the manager etc as there is no way that an intern did this without direction. The manager who is German does not seem to understand that the rules in England do not permit this sort of spying. Southampton players are also going to sue the club management as they were not involved and the actions has had a direct effect on their livelihood. https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/southampton-spygate-tonda-eckert-intern-felt-pressure-jmnsv67tx or https://archive.ph/9IMvM

A group of peers and MPs want Lisa Nandy to investigate the pro-Palestinian head of the Southbank centre. Has he crossed the line into sectarian partisanship by posting a photo of himself with the leader of the Greens on the day of the local elections? The need for heads of institutions to behave in an impartial manner has not gone away. When they don’t, they undermine trust in that previously apolitical institution. The man was appointed in 2021 during a peak ‘woke’ period. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/investigate-southbank-centre-boss-mps-peers-nandy-sk6xtfwf8 or https://archive.ph/KbLps

This week was the Chelsea Flower Show, one of the great showpieces of the British social calendar. David Austen Roses won a gold medal for their latest rose – Sir David Beckham which is quite a delicate white flower as well as a medal for their Cotswold inspired garden. It was a request from his daughter Harper which inspired the dedication. https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/pages/new-for-2026-sir-david-beckham-ausa34b16

For all award winners at Chelsea: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/awards-2026

Here it is Bank Holiday weekend. Whitsun. It always chimes with Memorial Day.

Most of the week was cold but suddenly it is warm for the weekend. Hopefully I shall be able to inspect the bees.

Because it has been cold, the blossom has lingered this year. It has been an exceptionally good bluebell year as well.

Paddy with a biscuit.

Paddy is waiting for his walk.

I have been writing. The quick novel is turning into a novel basically and it is proving harder than I would have thought. Plus I keep getting distracted with the news.

I have no plans to put a paywall on. If you want to buy one of my books to reward me, fabulous. I believe they are good escapist reads, historical romance set in a wide variety of eras such as Rome, Viking and Regency. ‘Simply enchanting’ according to Romance Readers’ Reviews about A Christmas Wedding Wager. ‘Everybody loves Styles’ Vikings’ said the Romantic Times. My Regency set Beauty tames Beast with a governess heroine, Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife has gone on to Kindle Unlimited in the US

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