In this week’s episode of Seen in Journalism: No Fear, No Favour, we sit down with Susan Smith of For Women Scotland to discuss the long legal and media battle over sex‑based rights in the UK.Susan takes us through the extraordinary journey from kitchen‑table activism to the UK Supreme Court, explaining how a small group of unfunded campaigners challenged the Scottish Government’s policies on gender recognition. We explore:* The landmark Supreme Court judgment in April 2025, which clarified that “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex.* How For Women Scotland’s earlier legal actions (2022 petitions and appeals) first established key principles about definitions of “woman”.* Why campaigners have returned to court repeatedly, despite prior rulings.* The role of the media: why coverage was often hesitant, selective, or framed as “both sides,” and how that influenced public understanding.* The influence of strategy documents (e.g. Dentons playbook) and internal memos (e.g. Transphylum) on embedding self‑ID policies.* Cultural flashpoints: from Hadley Freeman’s Guardian commentary and Magdalen Berns’ YouTube presence, to BBC Scotland’s coverage of Isla Bryson and the National Library exhibition controversy.* The political fallout in Scotland: institutional capture, civil service roles, and accountability amid elections.Below, we’ve gathered links to key cases, reports, articles, and cultural references mentioned in the episode.Court Cases & Rulings* Supreme Court judgment (For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, 16 April 2025): Read here* Supreme Court case summary / docket: See details* Petition to Court of Session (13 December 2022): Read PDF* Judgment: For Women Scotland v the LA & Scottish Ministers (Feb 2022 appeal): Read judgment* Case P578/22 (Court of Session, Oct 2023): Case page / livestream archive* For Women Scotland: Judicial Review announcement (July 2022): Read more* Scottish Government legal costs FOI (2022): See FOIMedia & Analysis* AP News: “UK’s top court says definition of a ‘woman’ based on biological sex” — Read* Reuters: Landmark ruling & implications — Read* Watch the Supreme Court ruling footage here* BBC - The Supreme Court ruling gives clarity* BBC - Woman’s Hour with Susan Smith * Nolan Investigates: The Stonewall podcast* Magdalen Berns’ YouTube* Herald piece by Neil Mackay: I would not fight for trans rights if it hurt women* For Women Scotland right of reply: Blame Sturgeon's pig-headed refusal to listen for trans furore* The Spectator: Denton’s Playbook* Creative Scotland funds porn: Arts body defends decision to fund axed sex show* Scotsman: ‘For Women Scotland ‘compares sex-based rights' plight to Taliban in deleted tweet’* Law and Disorder podcast: Lord Mostyn, Helena Kennedy, Charlie Falconer* The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht* BBC The Social LGBTQI* BBC PM with Lord Sumption is not available. Here’s the Independent instead.* Gender Recognition Act consultation and outcome 2018* MSPs back amendment to replace gender with sex in new law supporting rape victims Get full access to SEENinJournalism’s Substack at seeninjournalism.substack.com/subscribe
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1:04:16
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1:04:16
No Fear. No Favour. Episode Three: Helen Joyce
This week we had a fascinating conversation with Helen Joyce, a journalist and expert in media markets - and Director of Advocacy at the human rights charity Sex Matters. Formerly an editor at the Economist across a series of briefs, she wrote Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality in 2021 and has become one of the best-known and most articulate voices on the issue. In this week’s episode:* Helen’s own experience of becoming a media ‘untouchable’ after speaking out on the reality of sex * The reality of media tactics to reframe coverage of ‘gender’ and free speech * Why she thinks the BBC should have the licence fee removed (and you’ll be surprised at the response)Links to the stories we talked about in this episodeSupreme Court ruling brings clarity - BBC April 19 2025Susan Smith on Woman’s Hour April 23 2025BBC Newscast - The trans ex-judge challenging the Supreme Court rulingBeing targeted by Lynsay Watson - by Helen Joyce Why the BBC deserves to be defunded - by Helen JoyceHow Auntie excludes - The Critic June 2023Trans woman loses case over Brianna Ghey X posts - BBCTrans activist linked to Graham Linehan arrest is disgraced police officer sacked for branding free speech campaigner a woman beater and a Nazi - Daily Mail Media chaos in Brazil - LatAm Journalism ReviewHelen Joyce on Woman’s Hour May 14 2025Helen Joyce and Professor Sophie Scott on Woman’s Hour February 2020 Free-speech champion harassed by trans police officer is accused of hate crime - TelegraphJulie Bindel’s Substack Get full access to SEENinJournalism’s Substack at seeninjournalism.substack.com/subscribe
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1:21:04
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1:21:04
No Fear. No Favour. Episode Two: Nick Wallis
Listen to former BBC staffers Cath and Jo-Anne talk to investigative journalist Nick Wallis, the man who exposed the Post Office scandal. He’s now writing a follow up book to The Great Post Office Scandal - but has also turned his gimlet eye on the capture of global institutions by gender identity ideology.Find Nick’s whistle-blowing Genderblog here - including links to his live X coverage of the Graham Linehan trialEpisode highlights include:* Why he hesitated to speak publicly at first - and what finally pushed him to act* The role of the BBC and legacy media in shaping the debate* Why persistence is the defining quality of investigative reporting* What he tells younger journalists: “Keep buggering on.”Thank you for listening.Relevant links:The Post Office ScandalCharlie KirkRadio 4 1800 September 11 reporting Charlie Kirk listen at 14’45’’Jenni MurrayWPUK Journalism event Sonia Sodha Julie Bindel Susan Dalgety Susanna Rustin Helen LewisEmma Barnett interviews Mark Rowley R4 Today Sept 10 listen from 0745 GMTTickle vs GiggleTrade unions oppose Supreme CourtNUJ Code of ConductDarlington Nurses UnionFreedom in the ArtsThis Isn’t WorkingBBC Scotland - The Sandie Peggie TribunalSex Matters - intimidation and harassment of women Get full access to SEENinJournalism’s Substack at seeninjournalism.substack.com/subscribe
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1:08:00
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No fear. No favour. Our new podcast.
We’ve launched a new podcast: No Fear. No Favour. The SEEN in Journalism Podcast.In Episode One, former BBC journalists Jo-Anne, Cath and Sam reflect on what it means to cover sex and gender issues with impartiality - and what happens when stories are quietly shelved.Topics include safeguarding, the role of editorial policy, why trust in journalism is under strain and the big stories of the week. Get full access to SEENinJournalism’s Substack at seeninjournalism.substack.com/subscribe
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1:10:41
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1:10:41
No Fear. No Favour. Episode Two: Nick Wallis
Listen to former BBC staffers Cath and Jo-Anne talk to investigative journalist Nick Wallis, the man who exposed the Post Office scandal. He’s now writing a follow up book to The Great Post Office Scandal - but has also turned his gimlet eye on the capture of global institutions by gender identity ideology. Find Nick’s whistle-blowing Genderblog here - including links to his live X coverage of the Graham Linehan trial Thank you for listening.Relevant links: Charlie KirkRadio 4 1800 September 11 reporting Charlie Kirk listen at 14’45’’Jenni MurrayWPUK Journalism event Sonia Sodha Julie Bindel Susan Dalgety Susanna Rustin Helen LewisEmma Barnett interviews Mark Rowley R4 Today Sept 10 listen from 0745 GMTTickle vs GiggleTrade unions oppose Supreme CourtNUJ Code of ConductDarlington Nurses UnionFreedom in the ArtsThis Isn’t WorkingBBC Scotland - The Sandie Peggie Tribunal Get full access to SEENinJournalism’s Substack at seeninjournalism.substack.com/subscribe
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