The ruling was a blow to trans rights advocates and cheered by For Women Scotland, which filed the case. The government said it “brings clarity and confidence.”

Trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act, the Supreme Court has ruled in a landmark judgment. Campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) brought a series of challenges – including to the UK’s highest court – over the definition of “woman” in Scottish legislation mandating 50 per cent female representation on public boards.

Transgender women who have a gender recognition certificate are not “women” under the law, the UK Supreme Court has