‘We know what a woman is!’ Anti-trans talking points and populist radical right rhetoric by the Conservative party

This paper argues that the Conservatives’ attacks on trans rights in the 2020s followed a populist radical right (PRR) playbook, yet with two significant differences. First, PRR actors who employ anti- gender talking points and policies often use religion as an anchor, and justification, for their beliefs (see for example, Butler, 2024, Graff and Korolczuk, 2022; Harsin, 2018). Whereas, in the case of the Conservative party, anti- trans rhetoric was positioned as secular, a result of ‘common sense’ and ‘British values’ (Vernon and Smith, 2024). Second, in suggesting that equalities legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 should be modified in order to ‘protect single sex spaces’ (Badenoch, 2024), Conservative politicians like Kemi Badenoch ally themselves with self-described gender critical movements (see, for example, Butler, 2024), taking on a shared language of protecting women and girls (Turnbull-Dugarte and McMillan, 2023). Having explored the results of a thematic analysis of speeches delivered at the Conservative party conference in 2024, the paper distinguishes between members of the Conservative party who demonstrate an ideological commitment to anti- trans rhetoric and policy, such as Kemi Badenoch, and others, such as Rishi Sunak, who appear to use this rhetoric more as an electoral strategy than due to deep-seated beliefs. This paper argues that identifying differences in motivation is essential as it can inform how policymakers, scholars, and activists can most effectively respond to anti-trans rhetoric. References Badenoch, K. (2024). We need to change the law to protect women’s spaces. Available at: https://www.kemibadenoch.org.uk/news/we-need-change-law-protect-womens-spaces (accessed 29 August 2024). Butler, J. (2024). Who’s Afraid of Gender? London: Allen Lane. Graff, A and Korolczuk, E. (2022). Anti-Gender Politics in the Populist Moment. London and New York: Routledge Harsin, J. (2018). Post-Truth Populism: The French Anti-Gender Theory Movement and Cross-Cultural Similarities. Communication, Culture & Critique 11: 35–52. Kuhar, R and Paternotte, D, eds. (2017) Anti-Gender Campaigns in Europe. Mobilizing Against Equality. London: Rowman & Littlefield International. Turnbull-Dugarte, S. J and Fraser McMillan. (2023). “Protect the women!” Trans-exclusionary feminist issue framing and support for transgender rights”. Policy Studies Journal 51: 629–666. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12484