Growing number of Britons say trans rights have ‘gone too far’

Public concern over trans rights in the UK has risen sharply, with a new survey revealing that 39% of Britons now believe trans rights have “gone too far” — more than double the figure from five years ago.

The poll, conducted by the Policy Institute at King’s College London and Ipsos, shows a notable rise across all age groups.

Among 16–24-year-olds, agreement with the statement increased from 9% in 2020 to 19% in 2025. The proportion of women holding this view also rose significantly — from 14% to 35% — though men remain more likely to agree overall.

In contrast, the number of people who believe trans rights have “not gone far enough” fell from 31% to 17%, while those who say they have “gone as far as they should” declined slightly from 31% to 27%.

Political divisions were evident in the survey. Supporters of the Green Party were most likely to believe trans rights had not gone far enough (57%), while 70% of Reform UK voters said they had gone too far.

Beyond the specific issue of trans rights, the study revealed wider societal tensions. A record 84% of Britons now feel the UK is a divided nation, up from 74% in 2020. Those who attribute that division to “culture wars” also increased sharply, from 46% to 67%.

Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute, said the data shows “a frightening increase in the sense of national division and decline in the UK in just a few years.”

The change in opinion follows the UK Supreme Court ruling in April, which confirmed that the terms “man”, “woman”, and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex.

The court clarified that legal sex remains determined at birth, even if a person obtains a Gender Recognition Certificate.

The ruling has placed pressure on the Government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to provide clear legal guidance.

However, Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson recently called for “less public debate” from the EHRC, raising concerns about the Labour Party’s willingness to act on the issue. Labour had previously backed away from plans to make gender recognition simpler, stating it was no longer a priority.