Trans guidance for schools may be delayed again

A transgender guide will give schools in England advice on what to do if children want to identify as a different gender. Photo: Mark Kerrison/Getty Images Contributor

The Transgender Guidelines for Schools may be delayed again as Rishi Sunak continues to ponder where to draw the line on this sensitive topic.

Government officials privately said last week that the guide was due to be published this week, but on Monday Education Secretary Gillian Keegan pledged to release it only in the «near future.»

The possibility of a delay comes amid continued speculation in Whitehall that Mr. Sunak could reshuffle his cabinet this week, with three by-elections on Thursday.

Senior Conservatives warned they expected to lose all three Conservative seats. No contemporary prime minister has seen a triple defeat in a by-election in a single day.

Ben Wallace's announcement this weekend that he is stepping down as secretary of defense at the next reshuffle means there is one the job that Sunak needs. to fill in.

Number 10 insiders are weighing whether to make a reshuffle during the summer parliamentary recess, which starts later this week, or when MPs return in September.

Given the sensitivity of the topic, Downing Street is in no hurry. The Telegraph understands that the delay was not due to clashes between Ms Keegan and Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, who are two cabinet ministers involved.

According to one source close to the political discussions, their differences were ironed out through successive rounds of development. Instead, it will be Mr. Sunak who will focus on the details of the proposed guidance this week, along with policymakers and lawyers to test its legal impenetrability.

The guidance is expected to advise schools to warn parents. if their child wants to change their pronouns or the gender of their name, except in a small number of unusual circumstances. Schools will also need to ensure that students have separate toilets, changing rooms and dorms.

Other issues, such as the exact wording of the uniform that gender reassignment children can wear, were still under discussion late last week.

With both Parliament and dozens of schools closed at the end of this week, publishing a manual next week would be unusual. But some government sources have indicated that it is still possible, meaning that if the guide does not appear this week, it does not have to wait until September for release.