Pollsters Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now have run a poll for the Daily Telegraph across Britain regarding the public's reaction to the Supreme Court decision on the distinction between women and trans women.
Fieldwork was conducted from 24–28 April 2025, with a sample size of over 2,500. Respondents were asked a series of questions about the strike action.
The main findings are:
Below you can find a results breakdown for each question of the poll and what the data conveys.
Q1. "Last week the UK Supreme Court ruled that trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act, so that women-only spaces can exclude trans women (people who were born male but identify as female). Do you agree or disagree with this decision?"
| Response | All voters | LAB | CON | Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 40% | 22% | 62% | 75% |
| Agree | 19% | 20% | 21% | 13% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 11% | 15% | 8% | 5% |
| Disagree | 7% | 13% | 2% | 0% |
| Strongly disagree | 11% | 19% | 2% | 2% |
| Don't know | 12% | 12% | 5% | 5% |
| Net agree | 59% | 42% | 83% | 88% |
| Net disagree | 18% | 32% | 4% | 2% |
The ruling sparked celebrations by women's rights activists and also nationwide protests. Despite the protests, there is strong support for the Supreme Court ruling with over half of voters (59pc) agreeing with the outcome compared with only 17pc who disagree.
This is consistent across all age groups including the younger generations with 18−24 year olds (41pc) and 25−34 year olds (40pc) supporting the ruling.
Our results, however, do highlight shifts in opinion across political affiliations. Among Labour voters, more people agree (42pc) with the ruling than disagree (32pc) suggesting a broader spectrum of views within the party's base. In contrast, Conservative and Reform UK voters show overwhelming support for the ruling, with 83pc and 88pc respectively agreeing with the decision, and very low levels of disagreement, just 2pc among Reform voters. Green party voters are the only group where over half (57pc) disagree with the ruling.
Q2. "In which of the following spaces do you believe it's acceptable to exclude trans women? Select all that apply ."
| Response | All voters | LAB | CON | Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's sports | 58% | 48% | 74% | 76% |
| Women's prisons | 52% | 41% | 69% | 73% |
| Women's toilets | 51% | 38% | 71% | 77% |
| Women's gyms | 44% | 32% | 61% | 67% |
| Rape crisis centres | 41% | 32% | 55% | 59% |
| Lesbian social groups | 27% | 18% | 36% | 43% |
| Don't know | 19% | 20% | 11% | 7% |
| None of these | 15% | 23% | 6% | 8% |
When asked about what spaces trans women should be excluded from over half said they should not be allowed in women's sports (58pc), women's prisons (52pc) and women's toilets (51pc).
In sport, there have been particularly heated arguments over whether or not trans women should compete in women's categories and for the activists that back the ruling, this has delivered more clarity on what organisations can do.
Our results also show that many people believe its acceptable to exclude trans women from women's gyms (44pc) and women's rape crisis centres (41pc).
Lesbian groups were some of the biggest supporters of the Supreme Court ruling, with the LGB Alliance stating that the decision is a "landmark for lesbian rights in the UK". Yet access to Lesbian social groups ranked significantly lower among the public with only 27pc saying that trans women should be excluded from those groups.
Q3. "Do you think the Supreme Court ruling will have a positive or negative impact on women's rights and safety?"
| Response | All voters | LAB | CON | Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very positive | 23% | 11% | 35% | 55% |
| Positive | 24% | 24% | 32% | 21% |
| Neither positive nor negative | 15% | 17% | 14% | 11% |
| Negative | 10% | 16% | 5% | 3% |
| Very negative | 9% | 14% | 1% | 2% |
| Don't know | 20% | 19% | 13% | 9% |
| Net positive | 47% | 35% | 67% | 76% |
| Net negative | 19% | 30% | 6% | 4% |
Nearly half of voters believe that the ruling will have a positive impact on women's rights and safety (47pc) with just 19pc disagreeing.
Staying closely in the line of support with the Supreme Court ruling, Reform UK (76pc) and Conservative voters (67pc) firmly believe that it will have a positive impact for women.
The Scottish government's controversial bill on gender recognition was challenged by For Women Scotland. Despite support from the Scottish government for stronger transgender rights, over half (53pc) of Scottish respondents think the ruling will improve women's rights.
Q4. "Do you think the Supreme Court ruling will lead to an increase or decrease in discrimination against transgender people?"
| Response | All voters | LAB | CON | Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big increase | 18% | 30% | 5% | 6% |
| Some increase | 24% | 27% | 27% | 21% |
| Neither increase nor decrease | 34% | 24% | 50% | 53% |
| Some decrease | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| Big decrease | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Don't know | 21% | 17% | 16% | 15% |
| Net increase | 41% | 57% | 32% | 27% |
| Unchanged | 34% | 24% | 50% | 53% |
| Net decrease | 3% | 2% | 3% | 5% |
Interestingly, while most people agree with the ruling that trans women are not legally women, 41pc accept that the outcome could increase discrimination towards transgender people compared with the 37pc who think it will be unchanged or even reduce.
Voters from the Green party (74pc) and the Liberal Democrats (62pc) overwhelmingly believe that this could lead to an increase in discrimination. Labour voters come close behind at 57pc compared to 32pc of Conservative voters 27pc of Reform voters.
Q5. "Do you approve or disapprove of author J.K. Rowling's efforts to help fund organisations that advocate for women-only spaces?"
| Response | All voters | LAB | CON | Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly approve | 29% | 15% | 45% | 61% |
| Approve | 18% | 17% | 24% | 16% |
| Neither approve nor disapprove | 19% | 22% | 17% | 12% |
| Disapprove | 6% | 12% | 3% | 2% |
| Strongly disapprove | 12% | 21% | 2% | 2% |
| Don't know | 17% | 14% | 8% | 7% |
| Net approve | 47% | 31% | 69% | 77% |
| Net disapprove | 18% | 33% | 5% | 4% |
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series and a long-time women's rights activist has supported organisations like For Women Scotland and women's-only rape centre Beira's Place for making women-only spaces allow biological women only.
When asked whether they approve or disapprove of Rowling's support towards women-only spaces, 47pc of the public said they approve compared to just 18pc who disapproved of her efforts.
Younger generations are split on where they land with the Scottish author. Amongst 18−24 year olds, 32pc approve of her actions, exactly the same share as disapprove. But those aged over 65 approve of Rowling's action by a margin of 64pc to 7pc.
Martin Baxter, CEO of Electoral Calculus, said: "The British public are solidly behind the Supreme Court's decision, which they think will have a positive impact on women's rights. But Labour voters are much less enthusiastic, which might explain why the government has been keeping fairly quiet on this issue. Labour needs to keep voters from draining away to Reform UK, and Reform supporters are keen supporters of the court's judgement."
Find Out Now polled 2,684 GB adults online between 24-28 April 2025. The sample was weighted to be representative by gender, age, social grade, other demographics and past voting patterns.
Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus are both members of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules.
Data tables for this poll are available here.
Electoral Calculus is a pollster and political consultancy specialising in quantitative analysis and modelling for electoral and other market research projects. It has successfully predicted UK general elections since 2010. It was founded by Martin Baxter, its CEO.
Electoral Calculus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules, and is a company partner of the Market Research Society.
Find Out Now is a polling and market research panel with 2.8 million members. Highly profiled respondents can be targeted instantly, with over 100,000 daily responses allowing the delivery of same-day nationally representative sampling.
Find Out Now are a member of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules, and are a company partner of the Market Research Society.