The Highest Court in the United Kingdom (UK) has ruled that the legal definition of a woman should refer to “a biological woman and biological sex”.

The judgement in Britain followed legal action by a campaign group, For Women Scotland (FWS), against government legislation designed to increase the proportion of women on public-sector boards.

The decision confirms that single-sex services for women such as refugees, hospital wards and sports can exclude trans women, clearing up legal ambiguity.

The UK’s ruling Labour party said the ruling brought “clarity and confidence” while the opposition Conservatives called it a “clear victory for common sense”.