“For Women Scotland” Supreme Court Ruling

Peter Swallow Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Bridget Phillipson]

Over many decades, feminist campaigners, from the ’70s onwards, worked incredibly hard to ensure that women were able to divorce, that when that happened they were able to see their children, that they got protection at work, that they did not face discrimination, that they could access women’s refuges and rape crisis centres, and that rape was finally, back in the early ’90s, banned in marriage. I pay tribute to the amazing feminist campaigners and women over many decades who have brought us to a much stronger position, and to the brilliant trailblazers from across political parties who have ensured that we have far more women represented in this place than ever before.

[Peter Swallow (Bracknell) (Lab)]

I want to thank the Minister for these remarks in her statement: “Dignity and respect for all—those are the values that lift us up and set us free. Those are the values that define and distinguish any modern and compassionate society.” Will she just reiterate one more time that when this Government talk about increasing the support for equality for all, that really does mean all?

[Bridget Phillipson]

My hon. Friend is right. This is about dignity and compassion for all, and that is an important message that I think we should all take out from this House.