Angela Rayner demands women-only spaces remain amid pressure from trans lobby

Rayner said: "It's really important that, as part of the Gender Recognition Act, people that are transitioning are given support. And that's what we want to see.

“We want to see a more humane process, and I think that's where the public are, actually."

"But we also want to see protections for women-only spaces, which is why the last Labour Government, in the Equalities Act, put provisions in there to make that happen."

"No woman should feel insecure or unsafe, whether it's a transgender woman or a biological woman.”

She said: “Everybody should be able to feel safe and comfortable in those spaces.

“And we should be able to find a way forward on that. I think we can."

"This is affecting people's lives. And when the debate is pushed down to the lowest common denominator, this is traumatic for people who are going through some really serious issues in their lives, and we want to see a supportive process."

"The UK Labour Party has made it clear that we want to see policies around gender recognition be more humane.

“We want to see the process more slim-lined. We do think there is a need for more support mechanisms, so that when people are going through that process, there is support."

"We've also talked about women-only spaces, and making sure that we define that, so people are safe and secure and feel that provision is protected."

Despite Rayner’s comments, the Labour Party recently pledged to “modernise, simplify and reform” the Gender Recognition Act.

Anneliese Dodds, who serves as Labour chair and Shadow Equalities Secretary, said last month: “Changing gender is not a decision anyone makes lightly.

“The process is intrusive, outdated and humiliating. So we will modernise, simplify and reform the gender recognition law to a new process.

“We will remove invasive bureaucracy and simplify the process.”