logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
36m 11s

What is a ‘woman’ in law? The Supreme Co...

Financial Times
About this episode

The UK Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling this week about the legal definition of a woman in equality legislation. Judges ruled that a woman is someone who is born biologically female. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT’s Anna Gross and Robert Shrimsley to discuss the political significance of this decision and the reaction of rival parties, as well as what it’s likely to mean in practice. Plus, FT industry correspondent Sylvia Pfeifer joins the panel to discuss the government’s seizing control of British Steel from its Chinese owner, and what that means for London-Beijing relations.


Have a question for our panel? Drop us a line at politicalfix@ft.com. Record a voice note with your name and question, and email it to us. 


Follow Lucy on Bluesky or X: @lucyfisher.bsky.social, @LOS_Fisher; Anna annasophiegross.bsky.social, @AnnaSophieGross, Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social, @robertshrimsley, Sylvia @sylviapfiefer @sylviapfiefer.bsky.social 


Want more? Free links:  


Legal definition of a woman refers to ‘biological sex’, UK Supreme Court rules  


British Steel: how its Chinese owner’s plans unravelled  


British Steel’s Chinese owner says UK government must ‘respect’ its rights 


Reform UK targets Labour voters ahead of local elections 


Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter’ award. 


Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Lulu Smyth, with help from Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Original music and mix by Breen Turner, with help this week from Fiona Symon. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Oct 6
Coming soon from Tech Tonic: Mission to Mars
US President Donald Trump has pledged to “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars”, China could send its first crewed mission to Mars within a decade, and Elon Musk wants people to actually settle on Mars, transforming the human race into an interplanetary species. In a ne ... Show More
1m 40s
Sep 30
Labour’s conference comeback?
This week, the Political Fix team comes to you from Liverpool — with all the news from the annual Labour Party Conference. Sir Keir Starmer struck a patriotic tone to the Labour faithful, promising to fight Nigel Farage’s “politics of grievance” and build a renewed, healthy Brita ... Show More
36m 27s
Sep 26
Does Starmer have a northern problem?
As the prime minister prepares for his annual party conference, the mayor for Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, seems to be mounting a thinly veiled bid for the Labour leadership. In numerous interviews given to the media this past week, Burnham said he had been privately urged b ... Show More
32m 16s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
UK court defines 'woman'; trans women left in limbo
The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court has ruled that a woman is defined by “biological sex” under equality law. The decision could limit transgender women’s access to essential services and set a lasting legal precedent. As hate crimes rise, what will this mean for the daily lives a ... Show More
24m 41s
Apr 2025
The Supreme Court Decision on Sex and Gender
Today, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. It marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle which could have major implications for how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales.Adam is joined by J ... Show More
27m 23s
Oct 1
Will the Supreme Court Hand Trump Another Slate of Victories?
The New Yorker contributing writer Jeannie Suk Gersen joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the Supreme Court’s new term and the cases that could test the boundaries of executive authority and separation of powers. They talk about challenges to Presidential power under the International ... Show More
47m 18s
Aug 18
The Dubious Legality of Trump's DC Takeover
Kate and Leah recap the week's legal news, including argument calendars for the next SCOTUS term and President Trump's attempted federal takeover of Washington, DC. Then, it's our third annual State of The Uterus episode. Melissa and Leah talk with Alexis McGill Johnson, presiden ... Show More
1h 51m
Mar 2024
The IVF Decision We Should Have Seen Coming
It was a wild week at the High Court (another seven days crammed with a year’s worth of news). SCOTUS heard cases about bump stocks, and how Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito would do as Facebook content moderators. The Supreme Court also finally found the time to put a thumb on t ... Show More
1h 1m
Apr 2025
The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Sex and Gender: What’s the Impact on the NHS?
Today, we look at what yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling means for the NHS.The NHS will be pursued if it doesn’t follow new guidance on single-sex spaces the chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said. Currently the NHS guidance says trans people should be acc ... Show More
26m 56s
Sep 2
Appeals court rules most of Trump's tariffs illegal.
On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in a 7–4 decision that President Donald Trump had overstepped his authority in imposing tariffs unilaterally, upholding a lower court decision. The appeals court’s decision targeted the tariffs Trump justified by ... Show More
32m 14s
Dec 2024
Why has ABC News given Donald Trump $15 million?
Donald Trump has achieved a legal victory after ABC News announced that it was paying Trump $15 million and legal fees to settle a defamation lawsuit related to remarks made in March by morning news presenter George Stephanopoulos.Following the settlement Trump said he intends to ... Show More
25m 38s
Feb 2025
Labour WhatsApps: "If you’ve got racist thoughts then you shouldn't be an MP!"
Do MPs say one thing in public, and another in private? This week, Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson ask what’s been going on with the two MPs suspended from the Labour party over WhatsApps messages containing offensive comments.   Andrew Gwynne and Oliver Ryan both lo ... Show More
40m 10s
Sep 15
The Rise of the Supreme Court’s So-Called Shadow Docket
The Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Trump to remake American government, siding with the president again and again. But many of those rulings have lacked something fundamental: an explanation for why the most important judges in the country came to their decision. ... Show More
26m 17s