Socialist Party member Ellie Waple, standing on a fighting socialist programme in the election for Unison’s National Executive Council (NEC), received an email from the political correspondent of the Tory-supporting Telegraph newspaper on 17 May, prior to them running an article in the Sunday Telegraph on 18 May.
Ellie, a trans woman, is the LGBT+ members officer and newly elected convenor in Surrey County Unison branch, and is joint chair of the Unison regional local government committee. She has received a flood of support messages from Unison branches and members.
We print here The Telegraph’s email and Ellie’s reply.
Dominic Penna, Political Correspondent, The Telegraph:
It has come to our attention that you are running for the disabled members’ seat (female) at the 2025 Unison NEC elections.
This is despite the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent EHRC guidance about biological sex.
I am just wondering if you have anything to say in relation either to the ruling or your candidacy, or indeed anything else.
Ellie’s statement for publication
First and foremost, I am a trade unionist and socialist. The key role of the trade unions, in my view, is to provide a vehicle for working-class people to challenge bad employers and unite workers to defend and improve working conditions for all.
Unless advised otherwise by Unison, if elected I intend to take my seat on the NEC.
The biggest threat to women’s rights is not trans people, but rather the 1% of super-powerful rich, clinging to their wealth and denying real funding for housing, domestic violence services and women’s services.
The undemocratic and unaccountable Supreme Court ruling plays to the false narrative and agenda that trans people are a threat to women and will only serve to create a climate of fear among trans people.
It once again proves that minority rights are not secure in a society which relies on scapegoating to preserve the rule of the privileged elite.
In the year ending March 2024, 4,780 hate crimes against transgender people were recorded. That’s an increase of about 60% on 2021 figures – the year that the census found that there were only around 262,000 people who identified as having a gender different from their sex assigned at birth.
This government, and the system they represent, is well-versed in trying to undermine workers’ unity using skin colour, sexuality, age, disability, gender etc.
If elected to Unison’s leading body, my priority will be working with others on the left to build a movement that fights against Starmer’s war and austerity agenda, for women’s rights, trans rights, equal access for all and a socialist alternative to the misery on offer from this capitalist system.
- Solidarity messages can be sent to Ellie via unison@surreycc.gov.uk.
- Voting in the Unison election closed on 21 May
