Ocado apologises to Mumsnet founder after online shop claimed website spread 'hateful political views' as it stood up for women's rights to single-sex spaces
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Ocado has apologised to the founder of Mumsnet after pulling out from a partnership citing the website's 'hateful political views' as it stood up for women's rights to single-sex spaces.
A landmark Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) could be excluded from single-sex spaces.
Following the ruling, chief executive of Mumsnet Justine Roberts congratulated everyone on the website who 'played a part in securing what I think most would agree is much-needed clarity in the Equality Act'.
She added that a number of organisations had refused to partner or advertise with Mumsnet after the online website called on the Government to clarify the definition of a woman. In particular, she singled out Barclays and Ocado.
This evening, however, Ocado have apologised to Roberts and Mumsnet, saying their comments 'do not represent us as a company'.
Feminist campaigner and writer Julie Bindel, the co-founder of the law reform group Justice for Women, posted on X about potentially boycotting Ocado after 'the Mumsnet thing' and Ocado replied saying: 'These comments are not representative of us as a company, and we believe they were made by a temporary contractor who is no longer with the business.
'We apologise unreservedly to Mumsnet.'
In a statement posted to its website in the wake of Wednesday's ruling, Roberts of Mumsnet had said she felt under 'immense pressure' from activists due to her website's stance.
'It's been severely testing at times,' she wrote.
'There were moments I genuinely thought we might never see the tide turn, or at least not in our generation… Mumsnet risked being permanently labelled as bigoted, vicious, and "on the wrong side of history".
'A fair number of organisations pulled their advertising under pressure from activists – both internal and external. I'm sure there were many more we never heard from who simply steered clear.
'Commercial partnerships became noticeably harder to secure. The low point was discovering we'd been blacklisted on instruction from the top brass at Barclays – just weeks before their CEO resigned over concealing ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
'When we included a call to clarify the definition of sex in the Equality Act in our 2024 Mumsnet Manifesto, Ocado – who had been excited about a partnership – abruptly pulled out, citing Mumsnet's 'hateful political views'.
'Despite repeated attempts to explain our position – as a platform committed to amplifying women's voices – they've refused to speak to us ever since.
'Nonetheless, even in the darkest moments, when I feared the site might not survive, we never considered banning discussion of this issue altogether. That would have been completely contrary to what Mumsnet is about: a space for mothers to talk about what matters to them.'
Under the landmark judgement, from the UK's highest court, transgender women are no longer legally women, meaning they will not be allowed to take part in women's sport or be on single-sex hospital wards.
Changing rooms must also 'be based on biological sex' and Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has already pledged to pursue organisations that fail to enforce women-only spaces.
Despite the ruling's unambiguous language, many large businesses and organisations have said they will not immediately be changing their policies for transgender individuals, at least not until they have received legal advice on its implications.
Yesterday Andrew Walton, chief corporate affairs director of Lloyds, Britain's biggest bank, wrote to staff and pledged to 'stand by' its transgender employees, who he said would be 'unsettled' by the Supreme Court's ruling.
'Please know that we cherish and celebrate you and remain committed to inclusivity,' he said.
Refuge, the charity established for female survivors of abuse, also said it would not be changing the way it operates, while the Girl Guides said they would be monitoring the situation and 'awaiting guidance' from the EHRC.
In their manifesto ahead of last year's General Election, Mumsnet called on the new Government to 'amend the Equality Act to make it clear that 'sex' refers to biological sex thus protecting women's right to access female-only spaces such as hospital wards, changing rooms and refuges.'
Ms Roberts congratulated 'everyone' on Mumsnet 'who played a part in securing…much-needed clarity' in the legislation in her post.
She added: 'As ever we're in awe of the intelligence, tenacity and resilience of Mumsnet users.'
Asked about Ms Roberts' statement, a spokesman for Ocado said they apologised 'unreservedly' to Mumsnet.
'These comments are not representative of us as a company, and we believe they were made by a temporary contractor who is no longer with the business,' he said.
Barclays was contacted for comment.
The ruling followed a seven-year legal battle by gender-critical group For Women Scotland and was backed by campaigners including Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
