PLAID CYMRU has admitted that it unlawfully discriminated against FiLiA after axing its stall at the Welsh political party's spring conference, the feminist charity said today.
The Welsh nationalist party signed a contract with FiLiA in February to have a stand at their March spring conference — but cancelled it at the last minute.
Plaid Cymru representative Elin Jones emailed the organisation on March 19 — less than 48 hours before the conference was due to start — to cancel the booking.
The email stated that this was because “some of FiLiA’s positions are potentially contrary to the party’s values — for instance on trans rights.”
It went on to claim that the presence of the stall would prevent the conference from being a “safe space.”
But the group said that Plaid has now accepted that the decision to cancel the booking on the basis of FiLiA’s protected beliefs amounted to an act of discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
Welcoming the move, FiLiA chief executive officer Lisa-Marie Taylor called on the party to ensure that women are safe from bullying, harassment and intimidation when speaking out in support of single-sex spaces.
Plaid has been contacted for comment.