Sandie Peggie tells tribunal RCN discriminated over gender-critical beliefs
Nurse Sandie Peggie is giving evidence at an employment tribunal in Dundee, accusing the Royal College of Nursing of discrimination over her gender-critical beliefs.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Sandie Peggie, a nurse who previously brought a harassment claim against NHS Fife, has begun giving evidence at a second employment tribunal. She is accusing her union, the Royal College of Nursing, of discriminating against her because of her gender-critical beliefs and of failing to properly support her.
Ms Peggie was suspended two and a half years ago after complaining about a transgender colleague, Dr Beth Upton, using a female changing room at a Fife hospital where they both worked. The RCN denies her allegations. It has said it is an anti-discrimination organisation and turned down a request for an interview. It will give evidence as the tribunal continues.
Supporters gathered outside as she prepared to give evidence in Dundee. One supporter said she was representing all women who face discrimination because of sex-realist beliefs. The supporter added that unions have a duty to support trans workers, but argued the law is clear that women's changing rooms and facilities should only include females.
Her case follows a partial victory against NHS Fife in December. A panel found the health board had harassed her because of procedural failings, but dismissed her main claims of discrimination and victimisation. She is appealing that decision. Ms Peggie remains employed by NHS Fife but has been off sick with stress for more than a year.
At the tribunal, her team said they could not say who was funding the case because of legal reasons. They insisted there were no international donors and suggested it was being funded by a left-wing individual. The author JK Rowling has been linked to the case as a possible funder. She holds gender-critical views, has previously voiced support for Ms Peggie, and has a women's fund offering legal support to people fighting for sex-based rights in the workplace. Her team said it does not comment on her funding.
Some campaigners want rules changed so the identity of anyone providing more than £10,000 in litigation funding is made public. Asked about the issue, a speaker said transparency mattered in all court cases, not only those involving trans rights or abortion rights, and that donors should be willing to put their names to their support.
Ms Peggie has been at the centre of a media storm. She paused for a break with her family during the hearing after accusing her union of not taking her concerns seriously.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 4 |
|---|---|
| A panel found NHS Fife harassed Sandie Peggie due to procedural failings but dismissed her main discrimination and victimisation claims, and she is appealing. | |
| Sandie Peggie brought a second employment tribunal claim against the Royal College of Nursing, alleging it failed to properly support her because of her gender-critical beliefs. | |
| Sandie Peggie was suspended after complaining about a transgender colleague, Dr Beth Upton, using a female changing room at a Fife hospital. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4 News framed the case as a culture war clash over single-sex spaces, with Sandie Peggie as an unlikely figurehead taking on her own union. It gave significant space to her previous partial win against NHS Fife, her appeal, and the question of who is funding her second tribunal. The report also probed litigation funding transparency and speculation about JK Rowling while noting the RCN denies the allegations and declined an interview.
- “Clutching her husband's hand, softly spoken nurse, Sandie Peggie seems an unlikely figurehead in a culture war clash over single-sex spaces.”
- “She claims the union discriminated against her because of her gender-critical beliefs and didn't support her. They dispute this.”
- “The RCN, who turned down our request for an interview, told us they were an anti-discrimination organisation.”
Broadcast Timeline
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