Speeches by Duffield.

“That makes sense. To what extent are you concerned about the current levels of statutory support for parents being a barrier for women in comedy? In our last session we heard that caring responsibilities made a huge difference and really stopped women carrying on that career progression. Do you agree with that?”

“That is really interesting. The question we prepared on this section is whether we need more transparency on the pay difference, but you are saying it is more important to get those bookings. It is kind of a circular thing, isn’t it? If those women are on the bill, they will get the same pay and they will get as much p…”

“Does anyone else want to come in on any of these issues?”

“Finding childcare in the evenings is an issue as well, because that is when most gigs happen, isn’t it?”

“I want to talk mostly to Kirsten and Jess about the pay issue, which we have touched on a little. Kirsten, you said that low pay was the single biggest barrier to women. What steps could be taken to overcome the gender pay equality gap in your industry?”

“What do any of you think could or should change to help this? Is there any policy that the Government could get involved in? We usually get a set amount of childcare, do we not? Would something more flexible for people in the arts help?”

“I heavily relate to everything you all said because before I got to Parliament I wrote comedy, or tried to. I was a single mum on benefits; my kids were young. All these things where you have to basically pay to do your job just to get recognised: go out in the evenings, beg your parents to babysit, and network at all …”

“Nina, do you think any of the organisations that you are involved with, such as Chortle or maybe even Equity, recognise any of this?”

“Ola, do you agree with that?”

“Rachael, you review all kinds of comedy. Do you ever hear that from men you know in the business?”

“I think it is fairly obvious that the hon. Gentleman is a man, to be honest. I think the majority of the human race could tell that. If there is a much smaller person running in that category, they simply do not belong there. The Government have had the guidance since September, but this is the law of this country. No …”

“That is extraordinary, but we are talking about a country of 70 million-odd people, 51% of whom are women. The majority of people know what a man or a woman is. If one has a problem with that, that is a specific personal problem. That is a man; these are women. We all know. It is an absolute load of rubbish that we do …”

“That is exactly right. We are not talking about gender identity. We are talking about the law as it adheres to biological men and women.”

“Thank you for clearing that up, Mr Stringer. The hon. Gentleman makes some really good points. Sex Matters has been pointing out, especially in its new leaflet, that so many people, whom we do not get to talk about every day, are still being subjected to these ridiculous tribunals. Jennifer Melle, whom the hon. Member …”

“For the very last time.”

“The hon. Member makes a good point. MPs on my side of the argument will certainly hear that time and time again from parents. There is a group called the Bayswater group whose members have gone through the problems and difficulties of their children wanting to transition from a very early age, with all the categories o…”

“Will the hon. Member clarify, as the Liberal Democrats are opposed to what they see as the interpretation of the law—specifically the Equality Act 2010—whether they propose a change to that Act? The EHRC is simplify clarifying the Supreme Court’s clarification of that existing law.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I thank the hon. Member for Upper Bann (Carla Lockhart) for securing this debate. We are so used to having small time limits for these debates that I am afraid I have not prepared anything like as much as I would want to say. On 16 April 2025, the Supreme Cou…”

“Absolutely. Of course, that is the hon. Member’s area of expertise. I know many health professionals who are incredibly frustrated at this simple twisting of facts, which should not be done at all in the NHS. I thank her for pointing that out. With a few admirable exceptions, many Members of Parliament are unable to id…”

“The hon. Member has a really good point. That lack of clarity is why we need the Government to explain fully what the EHRC is saying and how it pertains to the Equality Act. With or without a gender recognition certificate, biological men are not able to access women’s spaces—women’s toilets, women’s sports. The Suprem…”