be allowed to persist. labour has been focused on defence with keir starmer reaffirming his commitment to the uk nuclear deterrent. he said protecting the nation would be the bedrock of a future labour government. the lib dems deputy daisy group has outlined the snp leaderjohn swinney has called for a respectful contest ahead of the scottish leader's first television debate of the campaign that gets under way tonight. here is our political correspondent. should only biologically female be able to use women's services? just people who are biologically female, also those who have change their legal sex on a birth certificate? conservatives say that women's services should be able to refuse any one of is biologically male without facing legal challenges. it is quite clear that the intentions in the law are being misinterpreted just because of changes, social changes, and what we are trying to do is reemphasise that sex, in the law, means biological sex. it always has done but there has been a lot of misinterpretation and we are adding that clarification so the law is clearer. the lib dems are known for their own stance, but they and labour have accused this policy of being a distraction from other issues. this is a cynical distraction from the litany of conservative failures, to try and once again stoke up a phony culture war. the lib dems have been clear on this issue, if there are any examples of a public service needs to have further guidance were happy to issue it, but let's not pick apart legislation that reflects the hard—fought and hard—won protections given to women, who trans women and all sorts of people with protected characteristics. the equality act which they were put in in 2010 and the tories opposed already protects single sex pieces for biological women. it already defines what a woman is stop what is certainly needed is clearer guidance and for service providers about how to safeguard those women only spaces. the conservatives also said they would remove the powers of the devolved scottish, welsh and northern irish governments over gender policy. it comes after the uk government intervened last year to stop scotland making it easier for people to change their legal gender. what has been suggested by the conservatives today is just another example of undermining the powers of the scottish parliament. obviously i do not want to see that because i believe we should have a parliament with a full range of powers to tackle all of the issues affecting the people of scotland, but people in scotland should be aware that only snp mps will stand up to protect the powers of the scottish parliament which are being eroded by the conservatives. the conservatives argue that this pledges of their activity and principle, but tory strategists hope it will put other parties on the spot, about where they stand. the prime minister has been asked about the policy. here is what he said. we have an ounce we will change the act so providers of single six spaces and services will be able to protect women and girls and ensure their safety and security. if it protect women and girls and ensure their safety and security.— their safety and security. if it is so important — their safety and security. if it is so important and _ their safety and security. if it is so important and about - their safety and security. if it is so important and about the - their safety and security. if it is i so important and about the safety their safety and security. if it is - so important and about the safety of women and girls why have you not done it in the 14 years we have been in power? it done it in the 14 years we have been in ower? , , ., , ., ,, in power? it builds on the progress we have made _ in power? it builds on the progress we have made in _ in power? it builds on the progress we have made in this _ in power? it builds on the progress we have made in this evolving - in power? it builds on the progress| we have made in this evolving area. the article in the times sets out the strides we have made particularly recently publishing new guidance for teachers and schools about these issues. sensitively ensuring parents are the heart of conversations. that is common—sense and right, widely welcomed by children's campaigners. we are dealing with the snp�*s aims to make gender recognition on our self identification basis which is not right which is what we have been dealing with. it builds on our track record of ensuring the safety and security of women and girls and children in schools. is it security of women and girls and children in schools.— children in schools. is it really about treating _ children in schools. is it really about treating the _ children in schools. is it really about treating the issue - children in schools. is it really - about treating the issue sensitively is? we it is about stoking culture war, isn't it? is? we it is about stoking culture war. isn't it?— war, isn't it? no, it builds on our track record _ war, isn't it? no, it builds on our track record of _ war, isn't it? no, it builds on our track record of treating _ war, isn't it? no, it builds on our track record of treating these - war, isn't it? no, it builds on our. track record of treating these issue sensitively and with compassion. ensuring laws are right and guidance is right to protect the safety and security of women and girls in the well—being of children. that is paramount in our minds and why i prioritise publishing guidance for school. i had a lot from teachers wanting guidance from the government about how to deal with issues. we provide clarity in that space ensuring parents are put at the heart of those conversations cannot be excluded from them. and now saying we will change the equalities act so providers of single six spaces, refuges forwomen act so providers of single six spaces, refuges for women who suffer domestic abuses or single six sport can ensure the safety and security of women and girls.— of women and girls. nigel farage sa s he of women and girls. nigel farage says he has _ of women and girls. nigel farage says he has a _ of women and girls. nigel farage says he has a big _ of women and girls. nigel farage says he has a big announcement| of women and girls. nigel farage . says he has a big announcement this afternoon, how much do you feel he will change his mind and stand? fin will change his mind and stand? on jul will change his mind and stand? q�*i july the 5th, one will change his mind and stand? on july the 5th, one of two people will be prime minister, keir starmer or me. a vote for anyone who is not a conservative candidate is a vote to put keir starmer in number ten. if you care about tackling migration, the boats and legal, someone who wants a more product pragmatic approach to net zero that saves people money and you want someone who wants lower taxes only the conservatives are going to offer those things and that is the choice this election. lower taxes for the conservatives, stopping the boats, legal migration coming down and a sensible way to save people money, that's what we offer. keir starmer does not believe in any of those things and that is the choice people should consider. at the end of the day only two people will be prime minister onjuly five. keir starmer minister on july five. keir starmer or me. minister onjuly five. keir starmer or me. the issues uk and about, tackling migration, cutting taxes, a sensible approach to net zero, i will deliver that not keir starmer. he will cancel fights, release everyone from detention centres, put up everyone from detention centres, put up taxes by £2000. actual mp stills across country, that is the choice need to consider, who they rather see, keir starmer or me. cutting taxes, cutting migrations or energy bills the conservatives will deliver that. �* , . ~ bills the conservatives will deliver that. �*, ., ~ ., ., that. let's talk to our correspondent - that. let's talk to our i correspondent travelling that. let's talk to our - correspondent travelling on the conservative campaign bus. he was asked about that policy announcement today, not without his critics. the conservatives _ today, not without his critics. tue: conservatives have today, not without his critics. t'te: conservatives have been today, not without his critics. tt2 conservatives have been criticised in the past four claims they are trying to stop division with this issue and that has been echoed by the lib dems this morning. daisy cooper saying that this was waging a phony culture war. there have been a couple of slightly dissenting conservative voices today as well, the tory reform group which is a pressure group for the more moderate end of the conservative party have talked about the conservatives having to think carefully about this being a wedge issue. you just saw in rishi sunak�*s clips he has denied it's a culture war issue, he says it's a culture war issue, he says it's about protecting the risk to women and girls. fix, it's about protecting the risk to women and girls.— it's about protecting the risk to women and girls. a lot of people watchin: women and girls. a lot of people watching coverage _ women and girls. a lot of people watching coverage and _ women and girls. a lot of people watching coverage and reports . women and girls. a lot of people i watching coverage and reports from the campaign over the last couple of weeks will be forgiven thinking at the moment it feels like a collection of announcements. we any closer to getting to the point where it becomes a cohesive policy plan from each of the parties rather than announcements on all sorts of things? announcements on all sorts of thins? ., , ., _, ata at a stage when you get manifestos and that's when you get all of the party policies they are putting forward. that will be the coherent plan. forwhat forward. that will be the coherent plan. for what they are putting forward. at the moment you are right we had a few policies here and there, policy announcements from the conservatives, fewer from labour at this point. where you get that big overarching plan, the vision for what they are putting forward will come when we get manifestos. i don't think we have a date for when those will come but we expect those in the not—too—distant future and that will be the policy platform and the issues going into this election. good to talk to you. thank you. let's talk to conservative peer baroness nicky morgan. talk to me about what the conservatives are proposing. what is the change they want to see to the equality act? tt want to see to the equality act? it is very simple. there is clarifying in the _ is very simple. there is clarifying in the act — is very simple. there is clarifying in the act when the word sex is used to talking _ in the act when the word sex is used to talking about biological sex that is something that has come, a recommendation from the quality of human— recommendation from the quality of human rights commission, the independent body charged with looking — independent body charged with looking at clause. in these debates around _ looking at clause. in these debates around sex — looking at clause. in these debates around sex and gender have become more _ around sex and gender have become more polarised. and i think it reflects — more polarised. and i think it reflects the fact these are difficult and contentious and frankly— difficult and contentious and frankly people feel often uncomfortable and uncertain about the language to use and what to say. this is— the language to use and what to say. this is a _ the language to use and what to say. this is a welcome clarification. | this is a welcome clarification. wonder this is a welcome clarification. i wonder what the specific problem, top with a lack of clarity. as you see it in the current act. because the act passed — see it in the current act. because the act passed 14 _ see it in the current act. because the act passed 14 years _ see it in the current act. because the act passed 14 years ago, - see it in the current act. because l the act passed 14 years ago, things have changed hugely. 0ne the act passed 14 years ago, things have changed hugely. one of the big debate _ have changed hugely. one of the big debate has been around those service providers— debate has been around those service providers who want to offer women only services. rape crisis counselling centres or those supporting domestic abuse victims are women only words. issues relating — are women only words. issues relating to— are women only words. issues relating to women's sports. people have found — relating to women's sports. people have found it harder and harder to know _ have found it harder and harder to know how — have found it harder and harder to know how to frame that, how to be certain _ know how to frame that, how to be certain they — know how to frame that, how to be certain they will not fall for level of the _ certain they will not fall for level of the law — certain they will not fall for level of the law and that is why the have recommended the change in the government has said that is something they would make that change _ something they would make that change to the equality act after re—election. change to the equality act after re-election-_ change to the equality act after re-election. ~ , ., , ., ., re-election. why have you waited until the second _ re-election. why have you waited until the second week— re-election. why have you waited until the second week of - re-election. why have you waited until the second week of an - re-election. why have you waited i until the second week of an election campaign to decide that the current provision is not sufficient? aha, provision is not sufficient? a couple of things. this has been a debate _ couple of things. this has been a debate that has been going on and nrany_ debate that has been going on and many of— debate that has been going on and many of us — debate that has been going on and many of us who are asked about these things— many of us who are asked about these things often _ many of us who are asked about these things often have been asked about this quite _ things often have been asked about this quite some time. also people involved _ this quite some time. also people involved in— this quite some time. also people involved in organisations like in sport— involved in organisations like in sport where it has got harder. the second _ sport where it has got harder. the second thing is the secretary of state _ second thing is the secretary of state has — second thing is the secretary of state has said there has been a focus _ state has said there has been a focus on — state has said there has been a focus on dealing with the scottish gender— focus on dealing with the scottish gender recognition around that and without— gender recognition around that and without the scottish parliament was able to _ without the scottish parliament was able to legislate and the other thing — able to legislate and the other thing was come and election campaign, talking to your correspondent about manifestos, this is an opportunity for parties to work— is an opportunity for parties to work out — is an opportunity for parties to work out what they want to say in that manifesto about all sorts of issues — that manifesto about all sorts of issues. this isjust one of those. is this _ issues. this isjust one of those. is this really _ issues. this isjust one of those. is this really an issue that concerns voters ahead of this general election? i concerns voters ahead of this general election?— concerns voters ahead of this general election? i don't think it one of the _ general election? i don't think it one of the top — general election? i don't think it one of the top three _ general election? i don't think it one of the top three but - general election? i don't think it one of the top three but it - general election? i don't think it one of the top three but it is - general election? i don't think it one of the top three but it is a i one of the top three but it is a sense — one of the top three but it is a sense somehow that actually why is it people _ sense somehow that actually why is it people in westminster cannot really— it people in westminster cannot really get themselves sorted out over the — really get themselves sorted out over the sort of issue? people don't want _ over the sort of issue? people don't want to— over the sort of issue? people don't want to he _ over the sort of issue? people don't want to be discriminatory by and large _ want to be discriminatory by and large. they don't want to find it difficult — large. they don't want to find it difficult what to see in our workplace. but actually there is a sense _ workplace. but actually there is a sense of— workplace. but actually there is a sense of these issues, the need for schools— sense of these issues, the need for schools to — sense of these issues, the need for schools to have greater clarity and guidance — schools to have greater clarity and guidance. people know young people are coming _ guidance. people know young people are coming up against these issues so it is— are coming up against these issues so it is a _ are coming up against these issues so it is a sense people are perhaps not saying — so it is a sense people are perhaps not saying it is this particular issue — not saying it is this particular issue lrut— not saying it is this particular issue but there is a sense that these — issue but there is a sense that these are _ issue but there is a sense that these are difficult issues and we look to— these are difficult issues and we look to politicians. i am sorry it would — look to politicians. i am sorry it would appear your position, this is not something that is needed. i don't _ not something that is needed. i don't know what their view on this is but _ don't know what their view on this is but i _ don't know what their view on this is but i think they will find there are female candidates, labour candidates and party members who do welcome _ candidates and party members who do welcome this proposed clarity in the law. ., , ., welcome this proposed clarity in the law. ., ,., ., ,~' , law. the reason i ask whether it is affected people. _ law. the reason i ask whether it is affected people, a _ law. the reason i ask whether it is affected people, a very _ law. the reason i ask whether it is affected people, a very small - law. the reason i ask whether it is . affected people, a very small number of people are affected by the issues we are talking about here. going into an election i think it is fair to say if you look at the polling about one of the key issues, the cost of living, housing, the environment, infrastructure, jobs, defence, this does not figure in that list. why is it such priority announcing this in week two of the election campaign when the conservatives had 14 years to make changes to this equality act introduced in 201014 years to do it, why do it today? introduced in 2010 14 years to do it, why do it today?— introduced in 2010 14 years to do it, why do it today? they have been chances it, why do it today? they have been changes made- _ it, why do it today? they have been changes made. we _ it, why do it today? they have been changes made. we did _ it, why do it today? they have been changes made. we did make - it, why do it today? they have been i changes made. we did make changes it, why do it today? they have been - changes made. we did make changes to the equalities lot to keep them up—to—date in a different area of things— up—to—date in a different area of things like — up—to—date in a different area of things like gender pay reporting for example _ things like gender pay reporting for