Lib Dem women’s group claims the party has banned promotion of event over trans views

A Liberal Democrat women’s group claims it has been banned from promoting an event at the party’s conference over its position on trans people.

The organisation, called the gender-critical Liberal Voice for Women, has said it has not been allowed to promote a gathering due to "censorious forces at work in the party".

The group is hosting a panel near the conference centre in Bournemouth, with former BBC Radio 4 presenter Jenni Murray listed as their headline speaker, to discuss "the importance of the material fact of sex for women and girls".

But the party has stopped them from both running events on-site or having a stall in the exhibition area.

Zoe Hollowood, who chairs Liberal Voice for Women, said the ban meant party members were being stopped from "learning" about the issue.

She said that Lib Dem MPs were being "sheltered from reality and end up getting in a muddle about women with penises on TV".

Ms Hollowood added: "It is also particularly regrettable from our perspective as it means members don’t get to hear from us directly about what we actually believe. Meanwhile, smears about us continue to go unchallenged within the party.

"There is an abusive climate that leaders need to get a handle on."

A spokesperson for the Lib Dems said the same rules applied to all groups.

The spokesperson said: “No groups are allowed to hand out promotional material within the conference centre. This rule applies to everyone.