Jolyon Maugham KC
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goodlawproject.org
Jolyon Maugham KC
@goodlawproject.org
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Founder and Director, Good Law Project. King's Counsel. Hon Prof at Durham University.

Live your values. Fight the power. Keep the receipts.

He/him.

https://goodlaw.social/nm7n
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Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 5d
Police report in respect of the social media activity of Gender Critical commentator Richard Dunstan: a statement from me. goodlaw.social/y7q6
Statement from Jolyon Maugham KC: Police report | Good Law Project
Concerning the report of a potential criminal offence
goodlaw.social
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
mrchrisbarrett.bsky.social
he knows when you are seeping...
bryanthomasdaly.bsky.social raisin bird @bryanthomasdaly.bsky.social · 2d
The bones of Santa have been leaking liquid for 1,700 years.
December 9, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
dailycannon.com
"You don't get to come to our house and dictate..." say Spurs as they let Slavia Prague dictate what flags can be up in the ground
December 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
sianberry.bsky.social
Ignore the media framing, I think this is a glimmer of good news.

“The tribunal was clear that the law does not now require banning trans people from single-sex spaces” - @goodlawproject.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Scottish nurse wins part of her tribunal in trans doctor changing room case
Sandie Peggie wins harassment claim but tribunal dismisses allegations of discrimination and victimisation
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
jessothomson.co.uk
Me, in The Guardian today:

"This is a moment that requires bravery in standing up for what is right. Organisations that value trans people should know not just that the law is on their side – but so, also, are many people who will step up to defend them if they have the courage to take a stand."
The WI and Girlguiding have been pressured to exclude trans women – yet the law is clear as mud | Jess O’Thomson
Since the supreme court decision, organisations have faced lobbying and legal threats. But trans people are protected by discrimination law too, says Jess O’Thomson of the Good Law Project
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
adambienkov.bsky.social
Asked repeatedly about Donald Trump calling Sadiq Khan "disgusting" and suggesting that he was only elected because of immigrants, Keir Starmer's spokesman says only that the PM has a "strong relationship" with the President which has "yielded positive results for this country"
December 9, 2025 at 12:37 PM
goodlawproject.org
"This is a moment that requires bravery in standing up for right. Organisations that value trans people should know not just that the law is on their side – but so, also, are many people who will step up to defend them if they have the courage to take a stand." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The WI and Girlguiding have been pressured to exclude trans women – yet the law is clear as mud | Jess O’Thomson
Since the supreme court decision, organisations have faced lobbying and legal threats. But trans people are protected by discrimination law too, says Jess O’Thomson of the Good Law Project
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:40 PM
goodlawproject.org
When I was an undergraduate I had a row with the Master of Hatfield College, James Barber, about whether the junior common room library would be allowed to buy (with its own funds) James Kelman's Booker Prize winner 'How late it was, how late,' which he disapproved of. 🧵
December 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM
goodlawproject.org
"I can see how organisations would be tempted to capitulate – especially when they think the legal threats are all coming from one side. It doesn’t matter if they would eventually win in court – the question is whether they can justify the risk." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The WI and Girlguiding have been pressured to exclude trans women – yet the law is clear as mud | Jess O’Thomson
Since the supreme court decision, organisations have faced lobbying and legal threats. But trans people are protected by discrimination law too, says Jess O’Thomson of the Good Law Project
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:43 PM
goodlawproject.org
What are the main points to emerge from the Sandie Peggie hearing? A brief expert blog from a specialist KC... goodlaw.social/5o6l
Sandie Peggie: Tribunal rules that employers do not have to exclude trans people | Good Law Project
One of the first cases that follows the Supreme Court’s decision on the definition of sex under the Equality Act has found that the court didn’t decide which changing room a trans person should use.
goodlaw.social
December 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
mimmymum.bsky.social
Remember when Helen Joyce was called out as "not an expert" by Australian courts - Now Maya Forstater has been told the same in the Peggie judgment! 👏👏👏

The judgement states outright that the evidence submitted by her & Sex Matters was “not skilled evidence.”

This is the Tribunal’s exact wording!
Highlighted paragraph: Evidence from Ms Forstater and Mx Valentine 1038. We turn to address the evidence from Ms Forstater and Mx Valentine, which the parties had described as “research evidence”. That is not, so far as we are aware, a term of law. Nothing was cited to support the use of that term. It is not skilled evidence as explained below, and the parties did not suggest that either witness was skilled or expert in that sense. It was not necessarily inadmissible, given the terms of Rule 41, and until read and considered the extent to which it might be relevant could not be assessed, but the weight to attach to it was a different consideration Highlighted sections: 1040. In many respects the evidence in the statements was more in the nature of material for the public debate on wider issues as to what the law should be, and on occasion it appeared to us to be polemic, rather than evidence relevant to the issues at an Employment Tribunal. 1041. Opinion evidence was addressed in Walker and Walker on Evidence, Fifth Edition (“Walker”), which explained the distinction between evidence of fact, and of belief or opinion. Opinion evidence may be led from what Walker describes as an ordinary witness (the classification of witnesses is between ordinary and skilled), and examples of that are given. Ms Forstater 1042. The statement from Ms Forstater was not presented as impartial evidence, but specifically as one given in support of the claimant. It had at paragraph 10 an argument as to facts, of which Ms Forstater said that she was certain. They are however we consider not facts, but expressions of her opinion. The assertion at 10 (b) for example was “Sex is in general readily perceptible and is salient to other people.” That we consider cannot be other than her opinion, for which no support from any document in the Supplementary Bundle appeared to be referred to in her written witness statement. It was contradicted by other evidence, and the terms of a Note issued by EJ Tinnion on 5 January 2025 in relation to the second respondent. It did not appear to be an assertion related to the second respondent in particular, but as a more general proposition. 1043. The assertion at (d) had a further series of propositions which were opinions although presented as facts. If the 1992 Regulations, then as discussed they are not within this Tribunal’s jurisdiction, and the comment appears to be an argument over the policy of the law, or how the law should be interpreted, neither of which are relevant evidence before us. 1044. The sub-paragraphs include, by way of example, (ii) “women are in general more fearful of men than men … Highlighted sections: That is again an expression of opinion without cross reference to any document in the Supplementary Bundle. Sub-paragraph (v) was “unless rules about single-sex spaces are clearly stated and enforced it leaves women open to risk of sexual harassment and assault, and makes these spaces feel unsafe.” That again is an expression of opinion. The witness statement purports to expand on the comments at paragraph 10 stating that the facts stated are true. In our view they are not reliable as evidence from a person not a skilled witness on the propositions that are advanced. 1045. Where there was reference to documentation it is in our view both partial and incomplete. Part of it is based on research undertaken by Sex Matters, an organisation of which she is the Chief Executive Officer. It is a campaigning organisation, as set out in paragraph 4. There is an obvious risk that that research is impacted by the nature of it, which is not suggested to be an independent academic study .... In our view it would not be dealing with a case fairly or justly to rely on expressions of opinion from a person campaigning on one side of the argument on such an issue. We did not consider that the case of Connor on which the claimant founded, cited above and which indicated that in some situations evidence which was not expert in nature could be sufficient, was applicable to such a matter. 1047. Our review of the literature referred to by Ms Forstater reveals that the broad generalisations she seeks to take from it are not sufficiently supported by the document or document founded on, both from the terms of the document and the other documents in relation to the same broad issue, to be treated as reliable evidence.
December 9, 2025 at 10:36 AM
goodlawproject.org
An important point to come out of the Sandie Peggie case is that 'gender critical' employees can't take matters into their own hands and confront trans employees. If they do that it is likely to be harassment/ bullying/ a hate incident.
So far as her other comments are concerned, they were impermissible manifestations of her belief and were in our view what amounted to an incident of harassment by the claimant of the second respondent related to the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, reasonably perceived by the second respondent to be so, and were a breach by the claimant of section 26 of the Act and of the Bullying and Harassment Policy. The second respondent was entitled to view the actions of the claimant in those particular regards as being such harassment, or as a “hate incident” within the policy, and the first respondent was entitled in principle to act on the complaint made, but the detail of how it did so depends on all the circumstances as more fully addressed below. The second respondent was also entitled to regard the claimant’s actions as a breach of the second respondent’s Article 8 rights, so far as the claimant’s expression of her beliefs was impermissible. 1034. We also considered that the claimant had acted deliberately to be able to challenge the second respondent whilst they were alone. What she did was to wait until other members of staff had left the changing room, and for the second respondent to leave the cubicle, before raising her own beliefs directly with the second respondent in the manner we have set out. 1035. Whilst the claimant had not been informed as promptly and in the detail we considered appropriate, and the first respondent did not consider whether to revoke permission at all, the claimant did not herself raise any formal grievance under the policy. She is an experienced member of staff who had access to union advice. She knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the first respondent having granted permission to the second respondent she required to have raised her concerns with the first respondent as the decision-maker rather than with the colleague to whom it had been granted, and in any event ought not to have done so in the manner that she did.
December 9, 2025 at 9:20 AM
goodlawproject.org
You know, infuriating and a shameful betrayal though the BBC and other media's misreporting of the Sandie Peggie judgment is, it also doesn't really matter.

What matters is the judgment which lawyers will read, use to advise their clients, and inclusion will be the winner.
December 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
goodlawproject.org
"Good Law Project said both rulings countered the argument that the supreme court ruling automatically resulted in a bathroom ban for trans people. “The tribunal was clear that the law does not now require banning trans people from single-sex spaces.” www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Scottish nurse wins part of her tribunal in trans doctor changing room case
Sandie Peggie wins harassment claim but tribunal dismisses allegations of discrimination and victimisation
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
jessothomson.co.uk
My thread earlier focused on the discussion re. FWS - but I just want to draw this out really explicitly:

The press absolutely monstered Dr Beth Upton in the most appalling way – only for the Tribunal to find that Beth had done nothing wrong, but that Sandie Peggie had harassed her.
goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 1d
Also worth noting, the Tribunal found that Sandie Peggie had harassed Dr Beth Upton in a "hate incident".
December 8, 2025 at 7:02 PM
goodlawproject.org
She won her case like you won the general election.
December 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
goodlawproject.org
Remember: the EHRC's Interim Guidance, and we understand the draft statutory guidance too, recommended a trans bathroom ban. Two tribunals have now disagreed.
goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 1d
This is the second decision - both first instance - since the appalling For (Some) Women Scotland decision to find that there is no trans bathroom ban. www.gov.uk/employment-t...
B M Kelly v Leonardo UK Ltd: 8001497/2024
Employment Tribunal decision.
www.gov.uk
December 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
goodlawproject.org
The line our disgraceful press NEVER quotes from the For (Some) Women Scotland decision finally gets its day in the sun.
goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 1d
This is a real disaster for those - pretty much the entirety of the British media - advancing a maximalist reading of the For (Some) Women Scotland decision.
796. Thirdly, the claimant’s contention was in our view not consistent with the court’s comment that “we have concluded that a biological sex interpretation would not have the effect of disadvantaging or removing important protection under the EA 2010 from trans people (whether with or without a GRC).” 797. After that comment the court explained that a person with gender reassignment as a protected characteristic could pursue a claim of direct or indirect discrimination, or of harassment, if the circumstances so warranted. There was no qualification to it to the effect that that was not applicable in, for example, the context of a single sex space under Part 5 of the Act. If their decision had been that all trans persons must be excluded from the changing rooms or toilets for the sex they identify with because it was not the sex assigned at birth, and may also be excluded from the changing rooms or toilets of their biological sex, that in our view certainly does impact on their rights under section 7. 798. Were the claimant’s contention to be correct that would have the effect of materially reducing the extent to which that protected characteristic could be relied on by trans persons, to their disadvantage. What was desired by the trans person when living their life may not be permitted in a large number of practical instances, and would not have been consistent with the view expressed by Lady Hale in Work and Pensions, and the line of authority in relation to human rights. Such a construction in our view would also not be consistent with the interpretation of the Equal Treatment Directive from the CJEU and its predecessor as referred to above, which remains as assimilated law, and would not be consistent with a purposive interpretation still required. The development of the law in relation to what is now the protected characteristic of gender reassignment is set out above. At the very least we would have expected these considerations to have been addressed speci…
December 8, 2025 at 2:26 PM
goodlawproject.org
Decision in the Sandie Peggie case.

She was not directly or indirectly discriminated against, her claim of victimisation fails entirely, her claim of harassment fails largely and her claim against Beth Upton fails entirely. www.judiciary.uk/judgments/sa...
Sandie Peggie -v- Fife Health Board and another (judgment and summary) - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Case number: 4104864/2024 Employment Tribunal, Scotland 8 December 2025 Before: Employment Judge A KempTribunal Member L BrownTribunal Member C Russell Between: Mrs Sandie Peggie -v- Fife Health Board...
www.judiciary.uk
December 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
goodlawproject.org
If you are addicted to heroin you can have your blood tested to help you manage the health risks. But if you are a child trying to access healthcare, in line with international norms, Wes Streeting's position is that you "must" be treated worse.
goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 1d
The Times yesterday, on how trans kids, denied the healthcare they need, are buying black market hormones.

Of course, this is *exactly* what everyone said would happen. And its risks are dramatically amplified by Streeting telling GPs they must stop offering blood tests.
“He didn’t have the money, so they paid for him to get some black market oestrogen,” Fiona said. “He got it sent to a friend who passed it on at school. And he managed to get shots and syringes from an STD clinic.” Experts are increasingly concerned that an illicit trade in black market cross-sex hormones is thriving as the NHS clamps down on prescriptions of the drugs for fear of long-term side effects.
December 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM
goodlawproject.org
The Times yesterday, on how trans kids, denied the healthcare they need, are buying black market hormones.

Of course, this is *exactly* what everyone said would happen. And its risks are dramatically amplified by Streeting telling GPs they must stop offering blood tests.
“He didn’t have the money, so they paid for him to get some black market oestrogen,” Fiona said. “He got it sent to a friend who passed it on at school. And he managed to get shots and syringes from an STD clinic.” Experts are increasingly concerned that an illicit trade in black market cross-sex hormones is thriving as the NHS clamps down on prescriptions of the drugs for fear of long-term side effects.
December 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM
goodlawproject.org
Am tempted to call him up and ask whether he'd like legal help because the economy would be doing better if immigrants were able to work.
December 8, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Jolyon Maugham KC
mc00.bsky.social
Reform UK are running a “cash for access scheme in all but name”, a senior SNP MP has alleged after they launched a £10,000-per-year membership which comes with exclusive access to party leadership.
www.thenational.scot/news/2567713...
'Cash for access' row as Reform UK open 'exclusive' £10k membership club
REFORM UK are running a “cash for access scheme in all but name”, a senior SNP MP has alleged ...
www.thenational.scot
December 7, 2025 at 7:19 AM
goodlawproject.org
This is NOT FUNNY AT ALL (giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...).
A Reform UK councillor’s business has been handed a £40,000 fine after the company was found to have hired someone without the legal right to work in the UK.
December 8, 2025 at 6:06 AM
goodlawproject.org
"In 2024, UK GDP per head at constant prices was 30 per cent below what it would have been if the trend rate of growth between 1980 and 2007 had continued." giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
The UK must do more than go on muddling through
We need to look at the causes of the country’s dire economic performance
giftarticle.ft.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:58 AM
goodlawproject.org
"Organisations including Samaritans, Mind, Centre for Mental Health and the Royal College of Psychiatrists have written to the equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson, to express their “deep concern” about guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission." www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Rules on single-sex spaces pose risk to trans people’s mental health, UK charities say
Fifteen organisations sign letter expressing deep concern over EHRC guidance being considered by ministers
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:35 AM