SCECLB201 E Jones

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio | Reform Bill Committee

Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol)| Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

Ymateb gan E Jones | Evidence from E Jones

What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective (to make the Senedd a more effective legislature by ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender make-up of the population)?

The principle is good. But we cannot skew data just because we are trying to be kind. Sex matters. There are 2 sexes. Fewer than 1% are affected by birth defects.

If a man identifies as a woman in order to be selected, we will simply have more

Men in the senedd

What are your views on the system of enforcement and potential sanctions for non-compliance proposed in the Bill?

It will be difficult to prove. There is evidence to demonstrate that anyone challenging or even questioning gender are open to harassment and being told they are committing a hate crime. Compliance Will be challenging and hard to “police”

Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

Yes. Self id is subjective. Sex is objective. There will always be a clash in legal terms

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

If a man identifies as a woman in order to be selected, we will simply have more

Men in the senedd

Anyone challenging gender and self id are exposed to being told they are committing a hate crime. In less than a decade, we have become a non- accepting society and protected beliefs are being challenged in courts and being won.

Eg Forstater. There is a risk of a lot of cases going through the courts, unnecessarily

We can’t be seen to be letting self id in through the back door, just to make it easier for females to access politics.

What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

unless defined clarity on sex ( biology) and gender ( culture) is on face of the bill, it will be open to challenge

Do you have any views on matters relating to the legislative competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights?

Yes. The fact that this being “ slipped” into legislation via the back door, indicates a clear misunderstanding of the equality act and the rights to hold  a belief ( Forstater)

If one person self id’s and another person holds a sex based belief, there is a clear contradiction. We need to get this right. It must not be rushed.

Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation, or to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill?

Yes. The fact that this being “ slipped” into legislation via the back door, indicates a clear misunderstanding of the equality act and the rights to hold  a belief ( Forstater)

If one person self id’s and another person holds a sex based belief, there is a clear contradiction. We need to get this right. It must not be rushed.

Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum or any related matters?

Anything else?

We will see further court cases showing how vulnerable people have been taken down a journey and society will

Be culpable. If we continue to get this wrong and conflate sex (biology) and gender ( culture) we will making ourselves open to litigation. Please reconsider. Please review legal cases that will help determine the risk and get this right. The risk of not doing so is too great. For all of us