Government sources have confirmed that ministers are to make single-sex toilets compulsory in all new public buildings in the UK.
In a move that will involve changes to building regulations and planning guidance, government ministers are expected to formally announce this week that they will prevent non-residential buildings from being built solely with “universal” lavatories – which means that new offices, schools, hospitals, entertainment venues, and more will be expected to have separate male and female toilets.
The move would also apply to new or redeveloped government-owned buildings.
Headed up by equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, the plans for the move were said to have been quietly approved last month, The Telegraph reports.
The newspaper reported that the policy was first proposed back in May 2021, but was criticised as being a transphobic move as it offered no alternative plan for trans and non-binary people.
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Ms Badenoch’s plans – which she insists are both legal and “important” – follow a review by former housing secretary Robert Jenrick, which reportedly came across concerns by women about the reduced privacy and longer queues that are generated by gender-neutral toilets.
Ministers are to make single-sex toilets compulsory in all new public buildings in the UK / Credit: WallpaperFlare
The government has also claimed some children are avoiding using lavatories at school because they only have access to gender-neutral facilities.
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Similarly, some campaign groups, including Fair Play for Women, told the government that same-sex facilities “disadvantaged” women, and that “many women and girls are unwilling to walk past the urinals to get to the cubicles in the former men’s facilities”.
A government source also told The Telegraph that it was “vital that women feel “safe and comfortable” when using public toilets, adding that: “These changes will stop the march of ‘universal’ and forced sharing of spaces – with a focus on guaranteeing privacy for all.
“This is a common-sense approach that is inclusive for all.”
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An announcement on the plans is expected to be made this week, according to government sources, and would be adopted following a technical consultation in the autumn.
Price caps and standardisations to be introduced for vet care in UK following major investigation
Emily Sergeant
Reforms to the veterinary industry to help pet owners better navigate the vet services market are set to be introduced this year.
After an independent inquiry group recently found that the current system is leaving pet owners ‘in the dark’, with a lack of information to help make informed decisions leading to weak competition and high prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has this week concluded its investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK.
The final report green-lights a package of measures to make the market more competitive, easier to navigate, and more responsive to pet owners’ needs.
It outlines the final remedies and recommendations, which together, will transform the market.
Remedies and recommendations in the report range from price caps and standardisations, through to upfront cost transparency.
We’ve set out major reforms to the UK’s veterinary sector now our market investigation is complete.
Our reforms will help pet owners better navigate the vet services market and will start coming into force later this year.
— Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) March 24, 2026
Practices will soon be required to publish a comprehensive price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options – so pet owners know up-front how much certain services are expected to cost.
They’ll also have to make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business, and provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs), plus an itemised bill.
Written prescription fees are set to be capped at £21 for the first medicine, and then £12.50 for any additional medicines.
Price caps and standardisations are set to be introduced for vet care in UK / Credit: Pxhere
There’s also set to be changes to the complaints process, as practices will now be required to follow a transparent, accessible, in-house complaints process, and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.
The CMA says an ‘unprecedented’ response from both the public and the sector has helped to shape the final report.
The next step is for the Government to respond to the report formally – with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, commenting: “We are grateful for all the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, and we will respond to the report and set out next steps for our proposed reforms in due course.
“This Government is focused on helping families save money on vet services by improving transparency and choice around pricing, so the public can make informed decisions about their pets’ care.”
Featured Image – Pxhere
News
Police release footage of Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest by hiding under a bed
Emily Sergeant
Police have released unseen footage of a Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest and justice by hiding under a bed.
David Dale Thompson, of no fixed abode, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week (18 March) where he was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of residential burglary at an earlier hearing.
The 43-year-old was caught early last year (15 January 2025) following proactive patrols by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) neighbourhood officers across Rusholme and Moss Side, who were in the area due to a high number of reports of burglaries in the weeks prior.
While on patrol, police spotted Thompson ‘acting suspiciously’ while riding a bike just before 5pm, and once officer subsequently followed him to a property on Boscombe Street, before calling for more officers to attend.
After gaining entry to the address, officers suspected something was wrong when they entered one of the rooms, and after lifting up the bed, they found Thompson hiding in the storage compartment attempting to evade arrest.
GMP has now released footage of the moment Thompson was caught.
Speaking following Thompson’s sentencing last week, Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald, of GMP’s Manchester Central Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This was a fantastic example of proactive policing, which has resulted in a serial offender now behind bars.
“We know how devastating a burglary in your own home can be and this shows our commitment to tackling them head on.
“If you have any information or concerns about neighbourhood crime in your area, make sure you speak to us. In the meantime, we have officers on regular patrols in areas that need us the most.”
The Manc -
4th July 2022 
