Too good for Labour: Karen Ingala Smith

We, the co-founders of Woman’s Place UK, are outraged that Karen Ingala Smith, highly respected campaigner and activist for the rights of vulnerable women and children facing male violence, has been barred from membership of the Labour Party.

We are proud that Karen has spoken on the panel at several of our meetings and at our recent Women’s Liberation Conference co-hosted by UCL Women’s Liberation Special Interest Group at the Institute of Education, UCL.

Her experience and knowledge have informed both our campaign and our policy demands.

The fact that the Labour Party neither recognises nor values her contribution or her legacy raises serious questions about the role the Party has to play in improving the quality of women’s lives.

We agree with Karen and the Equality Act 2010, that women have a right to access properly resourced single-sex spaces and services which meet their needs.

We are members of the Labour Party.

We stand in solidarity with Karen.

Sex matters.

Defend us or expel us.

Judith Green, Ruth Serwotka, Kiri Tunks

27th March 2020