{{Short description|British Baroness (born 1955)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use British English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Right Honourable | name = The Baroness Falkner<br/>of Margravine | honorific_suffix = | image = Official portrait of Baroness Falkner of Margravine crop 2, 2026.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2026 | office1 = Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission | term_start1 = 1 December 2020 | term_end1 = 30 November 2025 | predecessor1 = David Isaac | successor1 = Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson | office2 = Member of the House of Lords | status2 = Lord Temporal | term_label2 = Life peerage | term_start2 = 2 June 2004 | term_end2 = | birth_name = Kishwer Khan | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|03|09|df=yes}} | birth_place = Pakistan | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{marriage|Robert Falkner|1996}} | party = None (crossbencher) | other_party = None (non-affiliated) (2019–2020) <br /> Liberal Democrats (until 2019) | relations = | children = 1 | alma_mater = London School of Economics <br /> University of Kent | occupation = | profession = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine''' (''{{née}}'' '''Khan'''; born 9 March 1955) is a British politician. She was appointed a life peer in 2004, initially sitting as a Liberal Democrat but latterly as a cross-bencher. She served the House of Lords on many committees, including as its Chairman of the European Union Financial Affairs Sub-Committee from 2015 to 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baroness Falkner|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/3670/contact|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> From December 2020 to December 2025 she chaired the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
== Early life and education == Kishwer Falkner was born in Pakistan to a Muslim family who had left India at Partition. She was educated at St Joseph's Convent School, an all-girls private Catholic school in Karachi.<ref name="WW 21">{{cite web |title=Falkner of Margravine, Baroness, (Kishwer Falkner) (born 9 March 1955) |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U44447 |website=Who's Who 2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=17 April 2025 |language=en |date=1 December 2020}}</ref> After living and working in the Middle East, she moved to the UK in 1976.<ref name="Editor">{{Cite web |last=Swinford |first=Steven |date=2025-12-05 |title=Baroness Falkner: Labour was the party of feminism — not any more |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/baroness-falkner-labour-was-the-party-of-feminism-not-any-more-fzgjxswgn |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> She studied international relations at the London School of Economics, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1992.<ref name="parliament CV">{{cite web |title=Appointment of the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission - Women and Equalities Committee |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmwomeq/966/96610.htm |website=publications.parliament.uk |publisher=House of Commons |access-date=17 April 2025 |date=27 November 2020}}</ref> She also has a Master of Arts (MA) degree in international relations and European studies from the University of Kent.<ref name="parliament CV" />
==Career== Falkner worked in France and the United States before deciding to move back to the United Kingdom.<ref name="thetimes.com">{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Oliver |date=2021-05-14 |title=Women must be heard on transgender identity, says new equalities chief |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/women-must-be-heard-on-transgender-identity-says-new-equalities-chief-kqttljxmd |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> She worked for the Liberal Democrats, including in senior policy positions, and at the Commonwealth Secretariat, on the broader issues of globalisation, democracy and development. She was Chief Executive 2003–2004 of Student Partnerships Worldwide (now Restless Development), a charity working with young people in some of the poorest parts of Africa and Asia. In February 2008, she was appointed as the inaugural chancellor of The University of Northampton.
In 2018, she was appointed an inaugural member of the Bank of England's Enforcement Decision Making Committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Appointment of members of the Enforcement Decision Making Committee: Baroness Kishwer Falkner|url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2018/august/appointment-of-members-of-the-enforcement-decision-making-committee |work=Bank of England|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> As of 2019, she was an honorary associate of the National Secular Society.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Secular Society Honorary Associates|url=https://secularism.org.uk/honorary-associates.html|website=National Secular Society|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> She served the British Library Advisory Council from 2015 to 2020.<ref name="publications.parliament.uk">{{Cite web |title=Appointment of the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission - Women and Equalities Committee - House of Commons |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmwomeq/966/96610.htm |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=publications.parliament.uk}}</ref>
=== Political career === Falkner joined the Liberal Democrats in the mid-1980s and worked at the party's headquarters throughout the 1990s, shaping policy. She served as the LibDem's director of international affairs (1993–99) and director of policy (1997–99),<ref name="Editor"/> when she co-authored much of the party's policy on the European Union, and coordinated a joint response for European Liberals on issues related to Europe's structures and place in the world. She contested Kensington and Chelsea in the 2001 General Election and was on their list for London in the 2004 European elections.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 2011 |title=Results & Constituencies - General Election 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/345.stm |access-date=21 July 2023 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
On 2 June 2004, Falkner was created a life peer,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57309 |date=7 June 2004 |page=7059}}</ref> i.e. was appointed to the upper chamber of the British Parliament. From 2 June 2004 to 24 July 2019, she sat in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat peer.<ref name="Parliamentary career">{{cite web |title=Parliamentary career for Baroness Falkner of Margravine - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/3670/career |website=members.parliament.uk |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=17 April 2025 |language=en |date=2025}}</ref> Then, from July 2019 to September 2020, she sat as a non-affiliated peer.<ref name="Parliamentary career" /> Since 3 September 2020, she has sat as a crossbencher.<ref name="Parliamentary career" />
=== EHRC head === On 1 December 2020, she began a five-year term as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC),<ref name="SLN">{{cite news |title=Four new commissioners appointed to board of Equality and Human Rights Commission |url=https://scottishlegal.com/article/four-new-commissioners-appointed-to-board-of-equality-and-human-rights-commission |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=Scottish Legal News |date=13 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="gov.uk">{{cite web|access-date=2020-12-19|title=New Equality and Human Rights Commissioners appointed|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-equality-and-human-rights-commissioners-appointed|website=GOV.UK|date=11 November 2020}}</ref> the non-departmental public body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of equality and non-discrimination laws. Falkner's time as head of this national human rights institution was extended for a fifth year by Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Peter |title=UK equality watchdog chair at centre of staff complaints to be given new term|date=13 November 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/13/equality-human-rights-commission-chair-kishwer-falkner-staff-complaints-new-term |work=The Guardian |access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref> Falkner's immediate predecessor was David Isaac, who had previously chaired Stonewall, the LGBT+ charity and advocacy group. Her successor from December 2025 is Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, previously Director of the Women's Budget Group and the Fawcett Society.<ref name="Editor"/>
In the early months of Falkner's appointment, the EHRC withdrew from Stonewall's "Diversity Champions" employment scheme, along with many other British employers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-05-23 |title=Human rights body leaves Stonewall diversity scheme |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57219989 |access-date=2025-12-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Francis |last=Churchill|date=15 July 2021|title=Why are employers leaving Stonewall's diversity programme? |url=https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1743092?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=www.peoplemanagement.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> The EHRC intervened in the case of ''Forstater v Centre for Global Development Europe.'' The government had solicited submissions on reforming the Gender Recognition Act; researcher Maya Forstater had contributed to this discussion on social media, and lost her job at a think tank owing to her gender-critical views. The first employment tribunal had ruled against Forstater; the EHRC supported her appeal, both as a matter of freedom of belief and freedom of expression. Falkner justified the EHRC's interest in this case in her first interview in post.<ref name="thetimes.com" /> More broadly, she argued that women had the right to challenge transgender identity without fear of abuse, stigmatisation or loss of employment. She also raised concerns about anonymous online abuse, stating that social media companies needed to take more responsibility. In the area of racial equality, she argued for a measurement of ethnic pay gaps,<ref name="thetimes.com" /> akin to the way the gender pay gap is tracked.
Following this interview in May 2021, Falkner faced criticism accusing the EHRC of becoming politicised and transphobic.<ref name="pn">{{cite news |title=Staff quit UK's so-called equalities watchdog en masse over descent into 'transphobia' |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/02/04/ehrc-baroness-falkner-staff-quit-transphobia/ |first=Josh |last=Milton |date=4 February 2022 |access-date=18 September 2022 |work=PinkNews}}</ref><ref name="vice">{{cite news |title=Staff Are Quitting Britain's Equality Watchdog the EHRC Due to 'Transphobia' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ehrc-staff-quitting-transphobia/ |first=Ben |last=Hunte |date=4 February 2022 |access-date=18 September 2022 |work=Vice}}</ref><ref name="ier">{{cite web |date=22 January 2021 |title=The EHRC is becoming a political instrument, former Chair says |url=https://www.ier.org.uk/news/the-ehrc-is-becoming-a-political-instrument-former-chair-says/ |access-date=16 October 2021 |publisher=Institute of Employment Rights}}</ref> The Consortium of LGBT Voluntary and Community Organisations UK organised an open letter claiming that the EHRC had done little for transgender rights in the United Kingdom, and that its intervention in the Forstater case led to the EHRC losing "the trust of trans people and LGBTQ+ people more broadly".<ref>{{Cite web |title=EHRC Open Letter |url=https://www.consortium.lgbt/ehrc-open-letter/ |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=www.consortium.lgbt}}</ref> Several former and current staff members described the public body as "transphobic", "anti-LGBT+" and an "enemy of human rights", and several were said to have resigned in protest at its "descent into transphobia".<ref name="vice" /><ref name="pn" />
However, others defended her. Janice Turner wrote in ''The Times'': "Falkner is accused of politicising the EHRC, yet in fact she is merely depoliticising her predecessor’s regime. Her first act was to withdraw the EHRC from the Stonewall Champions scheme, which had meant that under her predecessor David Isaac (ex-chairman of Stonewall) a government body whose core mission is to balance all human rights was following rules set by one lobby group alone."<ref name="Turner">{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=Janice |date=2023-07-07 |title=Foul tactics won't move determined Falkner |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/foul-tactics-wont-move-determined-falkner-l8dkjgp0h |access-date=2023-07-07 |newspaper=The Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
In 2023 Falkner faced 40 complaints from 12 current or former staff members "of bullying and harassment".<ref name="Editor"/> In May an independent lawyer was appointed to investigate these complaints, the nature of which were not disclosed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Siddique |first1=Haroon |title= Chair of UK's equality watchdog being investigated after staff complaints |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/23/chair-of-uks-equality-watchdog-being-investigated-after-staff-complaints |date=23 May 2023 |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref> Leading articles (editorials) in ''The Times'' characterised the complaints as a "smear campaign" and a "hit job", falsely accusing her of bullying.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-10-25 |title=The Times view on Baroness Falkner: Smear Campaign |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/article/the-times-view-on-baroness-falkner-smear-campaign-dvzjhbn2h |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-05-25 |title=The Times view on Baroness Falkner: Hit Job |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-times-view-on-baroness-falkner-hit-job-ssgtgv6r3 |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> The investigation was soon suspended "following a backlash from 54 peers and outcry across the political spectrum".<ref name=dt>{{cite news |title=Victorious equality chief says 'we need to say less and do more' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/26/ehrc-suspends-investigation-baroness-falkner/ |last=Somerville |first=Ewan |access-date=26 May 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Equality and Human Rights Commission says it has 'paused' independent investigation into chair Baroness Falkner |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/equality-and-human-rights-commission-says-it-has-paused-independent-investigation-into-chair-baroness-falkner |date=26 May 2023|website=Channel 4 |access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref> It restarted in July <ref>{{cite news |last1=Siddique |first1=Haroon |title=UK equality watchdog restarts inquiry into bullying claims against chair|date=18 July 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/18/uk-equality-watchdog-ehrc-restarts-inquiry-into-bullying-claims-against-chair |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> but was closed in October, following a review of the Commission's handling of complaints, initiated by the Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch. Falkner remained in her position as Chair;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swinford |first1=Steven |title=Human rights chief cleared after row over her trans views |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/human-rights-chief-cleared-after-trans-rights-row-tjs2f8vrs |access-date=24 October 2023 |work=The Times |date=24 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Daniel |title=EHRC boss Baroness Falkner's job is safe after trans activists tried to 'hound her out' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/24/ehrc-head-baroness-falkners-job-is-safe-after-trans-activis/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=24 October 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024202936/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/24/ehrc-head-baroness-falkners-job-is-safe-after-trans-activis/ |archive-date=24 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Update on the Equality and Human Rights Commission's handling of concerns regarding Baroness Falkner |url=https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre/news/update-equality-and-human-rights-commissions-handling-concerns-regarding-baroness|date=24 October 2023 }}</ref> the board apologised to her, and recompensed her for "a good portion" of her legal fees, with the backing of the Treasury.<ref name="Editor"/>
Following the gender-critical victory in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, Falkner stated on ''Today'' that the ruling would be incorporated into its upcoming code of practice for women-only spaces enforceable by law. Falkner warned that "single-sex services like changing rooms must be based on biological sex", trans women would be prohibited from competing in women's sport, and stated that the NHS would "have to change" its policy of treating transgender patients in accordance with their declared gender.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last1=Carrell |first1=Severin |last2=Davies |first2=Caroline |date=17 April 2025 |title=Trans activists accuse UK equalities chief of 'overreach' for suggesting bans |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/17/trans-activists-accuse-uk-equalities-chief-overreach-suggesting-bans |access-date=20 April 2025 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=17 April 2025 |title=Public bodies face 'enforcement' of biological sex policies, watchdog warns |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/25097168.changes-toilets-changing-rooms-womens-sport-revealed/ |first=Laura |last=Pollock |access-date=18 April 2025 |website=The National}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Billson |first=Chantelle |date=17 April 2025 |title=NHS warned it will be 'pursued' if it doesn't change gender policies |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/04/17/nhs-will-be-pursued-if-it-doesnt-change-gender-policies-says-equalities-watchdog-boss/ |access-date=18 April 2025 |website=PinkNews}}</ref> However, when asked if GRCs have now been rendered worthless, Falkner said: "We don't believe they are. We think they're quite important."<ref name="Yahoo1">{{cite web |date=17 April 2025 |title=What Supreme Court's gender ruling means for workplaces, hospitals and sports |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/woman-definition-uk-supreme-court-hospitals-sports-083314305.html?guccounter=1 |access-date=21 April 2025 |website=Yahoo News}}</ref> Falkner also suggested that trans rights groups should use their advocacy to campaign for unisex spaces (such as toilets), as it was not a legal requirement for facilities to have gender-specific spaces.<ref name=":2" />
Shortly thereafter, the EHRC released updated interim guidance in line with the ruling, declaring trans women to be "biological men" and trans men to be "biological women". The guidance applied to any school, workplace, sporting body, publicly accessible service (such as restaurants, shops, hospitals, or shelters), and any association of 25 people or more. The guidance stated that while trans women and trans men should be barred from facilities matching their gender, they can also be restricted from facilities matching their assigned sex, and that only providing mixed-sex facilities could constitute discrimination against women. It did, however, say that trans people should not be left without any facilities to use. The guidance also stated that transgender men and women should be barred from gay men's spaces and lesbian spaces respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=An interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment |url=https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre/interim-update-practical-implications-uk-supreme-court-judgment |access-date=25 April 2025 |publisher=Equality and Human Rights Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Grammaticas |first=Damian |date=26 April 2025 |title=EHRC issues interim guidance on single-sex spaces |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyw9qjeq8po |access-date=26 April 2025 |work=BBC News Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Thomson |first=Jess |date=28 April 2025 |title=On sex, the Supreme Court has brought only doubt |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/identity/equality/69803/supreme-court-judgment-sex-trans-rights |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=Prospect |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Falkner acquired United Kingdom citizenship in 1983.<ref name="publications.parliament.uk"/> She is married to Robert Falkner, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The couple have one daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kishwer, Baroness Falkner of Margravine {{!}} The Institute of Politics at Harvard University |url=https://iop.harvard.edu/fellows/kishwer-baroness-falkner-margravine |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=iop.harvard.edu |language=en}}</ref>
== Electoral history == {{Election box begin|title=General election 2001: Kensington and Chelsea<ref name=electoralcalculus2001>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |publisher=Electoral Calculus |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Michael Portillo|votes=15,270|percentage=54.5|change=+0.9}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Simon Stanley|votes=6,499|percentage=23.2|change=–4.7}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Kishwer Falkner|votes=4,416|percentage=15.8|change=+0.5}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Julia Stephenson|votes=1,158|percentage=4.1|change=''N/A''}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=UK Independence Party|candidate=Damian Hockney|votes=416|percentage=1.5|change=''N/A''}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=ProLife Alliance|candidate=Josephine Quintavalle|votes=179|percentage=0.6|change=''New''}} {{Election box majority|votes=8,771|percentage=31.3|change=+5.6}} {{Election box turnout|votes=28,038|percentage=43.3|change=–11.4}} {{Election box hold with party link|winner=Conservative Party (UK)|swing=+2.8}} {{Election box end}}
==Explanatory notes== {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falkner, Kishwer}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics Category:Alumni of the University of Kent Falkner of Margravine Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) parliamentary candidates Category:Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II Category:Muhajir people Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United Kingdom