Menstruation is “not just a women’s issue”, Lib Dem activists have said in a motion set to be debated at their party conference.
Sir Ed Davey’s party will vote on a policy proposal on period poverty at their annual gathering in Bournemouth next month.
The motion states: “Conference notes that… menstruation is not just a women’s issue, and also affects some trans and non-binary people.
“Conference believes that period products are a human right, not a luxury; nobody should experience period poverty; England’s current free period product provision is not fit for purpose; [and] it is in everyone’s interests for the stigma around periods to be addressed.”
It calls on the Government to introduce a right for people to access a choice of free period products, place a duty on councils and schools to make period products freely available and introduce “comprehensive education on periods… to ensure an appreciation for the lived experience of menstruation”.
But the motion, to be debated on September 23, has been mocked by some Conservative MPs.
Workington MP Mark Jenkinson, who sits on the Women and Equalities select committee, said: “Crikey, could they get any more off the rails?”
Red Wall MP Brendan Clarke-Smith posted a face-planting emoji used to convey disbelief or exasperation and added: “Good grief.”
It comes after Sir Ed earlier this year insisted women can “quite clearly” have a penis.
Pressed during a phone-in on LBC in May on whether a woman can have a penis, he replied: “Well, quite clearly.
“The truth is the vast majority of people whose biological sex is a woman when they were birthed – they feel they’re women.
“They feel they’re gendered the same as at birth but there is a very small number of people who don’t feel like that, and the law has recognised them for over 20 years now.”
A spokesman for the Lib Dems said: “Period poverty is an issue that needs addressing urgently.
“At Liberal Democrat conference, we will be debating policies to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and the crisis in our NHS both caused by this chaotic Conservative Government.”
