Lib Dem activists say menstruation ‘not only a ladies’s problem’

The Lib Dems are set to debate a movement stating that menstruation is “not just a women’s issue” at their social gathering convention.

Members of Sir Ed Davey’s social gathering will vote on a coverage proposal on interval poverty at their gathering in Bournemouth subsequent month.

The movement, to be debated on September 23, states: “Conference notes that… menstruation is not just a women’s issue, and also affects some trans and non-binary people.

“Conference believes that period products are a human right, not a luxury; nobody should experience period poverty; England’s current free period product provision is not fit for purpose; [and] it is in everyone’s interests for the stigma around periods to be addressed.”

It calls on the Government to introduce a proper for individuals to entry a alternative of free interval merchandise, place an obligation on councils and colleges to make interval merchandise freely out there and introduce “comprehensive education on periods… to ensure an appreciation for the lived experience of menstruation”.

But Maya Forstater, government director of Sex Matters, which campaigns for readability on intercourse in legislation, insisted menstruation is “solely a women’s issue”.

She mentioned: “The Lib Dems’ conference season looks like it’s shaping up to be silly season.

“Of course menstruation is solely a ladies’s problem – solely ladies have uteruses, and so solely ladies can menstruate.”

The claim that periods are not just for women has also been mocked by Conservative MPs.

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson, who sits on the Women and Equalities select committee, said: “Crikey, might they get any extra off the rails?”

Red Wall MP Brendan Clarke-Smith posted a face-planting emoji, which is used to convey disbelief or exasperation, and added: “Good grief.”

It comes after Sir Ed earlier this year insisted women can “quite clearly” have a penis.

Pressed throughout a phone-in on LBC in May on whether or not a girl can have a penis, he replied: “Well, quite clearly.

“The truth is the vast majority of people whose biological sex is a woman when they were birthed – they feel they’re women.

“They feel they’re gendered the same as at birth but there is a very small number of people who don’t feel like that, and the law has recognised them for over 20 years now.”

A spokesman for the Lib Dems said: “Period poverty is an issue that needs addressing urgently.

“At Liberal Democrat conference, we will be debating policies to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and the crisis in our NHS both caused by this chaotic Conservative Government.”