Nigel Farage's 3-word response as National Trust puts vegan tampons in men's toilets

Nigel Farage has lambasted the National Trust over its decision to install vegan tampons in men's toilets at a historic Lake District castle in a terse post on social media which racked up nearly 19,000 likes in less that 24 hours. The Reform UK leader was reacting to reports of the sanitary products appearing beside urinals at Sizergh Castle, posting on X: "The National Trust has put vegan tampons in men’s toilets. God help us."

The National Trust defended its "variety of facilities and hygiene products" to meet diverse visitor needs, while committing to align policies with a recent Supreme Court ruling on biological sex and awaiting Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance. The controversy erupted after visitors to the 14th-century castle near Kendal boasting medieval towers and award-winning gardens – stumbled upon a wall-mounted dispenser stocked with free organic cotton tampons and pads from sustainable brand Dame.

The box, emblazoned with the slogan "Got your period? Don’t worry, we’ve got you," sits next to the urinals in the clearly marked male-only facilities, complete with a disposal bin featuring a male icon.

Separate female toilets nearby lack such ambiguity, prompting bewilderment among some male patrons. One pensioner told The Telegraph of his confusion upon entering.

They said: "Pads and tampons were provided, plus a male disposal bin... I went outside and put my head outside the door. I wanted to check if I had used the wrong toilet. It led to a great deal of discussion with my wife and friends as to why tampons and pads were put into the gents. I think it needs explaining as to what this policy means."

The initiative stems from a September partnership between the National Trust and Dame, a vegan-certified firm eschewing animal-derived gelatine in its products, aimed at delivering "period dignity sensitively, sustainably and with a distinct aesthetic in keeping with our unique spaces.”

Dame's spokesperson hailed the collaboration, noting the dispensers had earned "thumbs up" from staff and visitors, bolstering inclusivity at the site where annual footfall tops thousands.

Proponents argue it supports transgender men or those with conditions like endometriosis who may require such provisions in male spaces, aligning with Scotland's 2021 period poverty laws and England's 2020 free products mandate in public buildings.

Critics, however, decry it as a flagrant disregard for single-sex spaces, especially post the Supreme Court's April 2025 ruling in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers, which affirmed biological sex as the legal definition of "woman" under the Equality Act 2010.

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Maya Forstater, CEO of lobby group Sex Matters and the ruling's victorious litigant, branded the decision "deeply misguided," accusing the Trust of losing "touch with reality and the law.”

She said: "Encouraging people of one sex into a space reserved for the other sets the scene for unlawful harassment," she warned, adding it constitutes "a violation of privacy and dignity.”

Gender-critical voices online echoed this, with one Mumsnet thread exploding into debates over whether the move erodes women's rights or simply aids the vulnerable.

Mr Farage's post, timestamped 7:11pm on October 10, swiftly ignited a firestorm on X, amassing 1.5 million views and over 2,600 reposts. Supporters piled on, branding it peak "woke madness" amid the Trust's recent membership fee hikes – up 8% to £144 annually – and prior rows over "decolonising" heritage sites.

The National Trust told Express.co.uk: “Due to the variety of places in our care, including listed historic buildings and remote car parks, and the needs of different visitors, we don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to toilets.

"We try to accommodate the needs of all visitors by offering a variety of facilities and hygiene products. We are committed to ensuring our policies and practices align with the recent Supreme Court judgment.

"We’re currently reviewing our existing policies to ensure compliance with the law and are awaiting the final EHRC guidance before finalising our approach.

"It remains a key priority for us to be an inclusive organisation where everyone who visits, volunteers and works feels welcome and respected at all times.”