Stonewall challenges Tim Allan’s government appointment as charity writes open letter to Keir Starmer
Stonewall warns Tim Allan’s appointment could give Sex Matters “disproportionate and undue influence” over government communications
By Aaron Sugg
Stonewall, the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ rights charity, has written to the prime minister, Keir Starmer, expressing serious concerns over the appointment of Tim Allan as the government’s new executive director of communications.
Allan, a Labour communications strategist, was until recently a trustee of the organisation Sex Matters, which campaigns on sex and gender issues.
Sex Matters has promoted trans-exclusive policies, including opposing the inclusion of trans people in single-sex spaces, aligning with the new Supreme Court bathroom ban.
Its list of principles includes the statement: “There are two sexes: female and male.”
“The LGBTQ+ community is increasingly feeling isolated” – Stonewall on Tim Allan’s new position in government
In his new role, Allan will oversee the government’s internal and external communications strategies, raising concerns that his recent involvement with Sex Matters could be detrimental to the LGBTQ+ community.
In its letter, Stonewall highlighted the potential for “disproportionate and undue influence” over government messaging at a critical time for LGBTQ+ rights.
The charity pointed to ongoing delays in legislation to ban conversion therapy, the April UK Supreme Court ruling stating the term ‘woman’ in UK law refers only to ‘biological women’, and an ongoing consultation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on the Statutory Code of Practice.
“We need Government to re-build trust with the LGBTQ+ community” – Stonewall
Stonewall stressed that the uncertainty these factors have created for trans population and the wider LGBTQ+ community.
Stonewall’s letter states: “The appointment of Mr Allan to the heart of Government with responsibility for overseeing the tone, tenor and nature of its communications machinery raises questions about how your government will deliver its manifesto commitment to ‘remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and respect.'”
The charity urged the Government to rebuild trust with the LGBTQ+ committing to meet with trans-led and wider LGBTQ+ organisations to discuss any changes to the EHRC code of practice.
“The government is heading in a dark direction” – The Good Law Project on appointing Tim Allan as Executive Director of Communications
They stressed: “The LGBTQ+ community is increasingly feeling isolated. We need Government to re-build trust with the LGBTQ+ community; and that can only come from honesty and transparency.”
Highlighted by The Good Law Project this week, the non-profit wrote in an Instagram post: “Keir Starmer’s new director of communications isn’t just the founder of Portland Communications – which represented Qatar, Russia and Kazakhstan – he’s also come straight from the board of the anti-trans charity Sex Matters. The government is heading in a dark direction.”
This development comes amid heightened concerns for LGBTQ+ rights in the UK and worldwide.