Chris Northwood

@chrisn

trans 🏳️‍⚧️ (she/her); autistic; tech lead for a charity & author of The Full Stack Developer; councillor for Ancoats & Beswick/deputy Lib Dem leader on Manchester City Council 🔶 (promoted by Lib Dems, 1 Vincent Sq SW1P 2PN)

178 Siguiendo789 Seguidores342 Publicaciones

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Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jun 25

Rich is one of the best councillors I know and I'm proud to be supporting his campaign. Let us know if you intend to vote for Rich or otherwise at www.mcrlibdems.uk/votepledge

Chris Northwood and Richard Kilpatrick stand at a road junction in front of a Liberal Democrats branded billboard with a laughing photo of Nigel Farage holding lots of money that says "Ten Years On... Do You Feel Better Off?"

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jun 23

Ten years since the Brexit referendum. It's caused chaos with us about to get a 7th Prime Minister in a decade, it's made everything more expensive and made our lives worse, taking away things we took for granted. We @libdems.org.uk want to fix this and build a closer relationship to Europe

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jun 3

Today I'm at #LDX3 (the lead dev conference) and thought I'd post some insights and takeaways from the talks in this thread!

A selfie in a conference hall holding a conference pass

Chris Northwood@chrisn· May 22

I've written to the MP for Manchester Central following yesterday's release of the EHRC code. It can not pass silently, and we need to move towards new legislation to fix the mess the Supreme Court ruling caused.

Dear Lucy Powell MP,
I write to you the day after your colleague Bridget Phillipson laid the updated EHRC code of conduct in Parliament. As you will know, Parliament now has a time window in which to debate this code and choose to accept or reject it. But there is no guarantee that it will do so, and if it does, there will not be any trans voices directly heard in that debate.
In trying to interpret the Supreme Court judgement, the EHRC guidance has produced guidance that is muddled and hard to interpret. Legal commentators have argued that it is contradictory and in key cases provides no real guidance on how to act in a way that doesn’t cause discrimination. This is not a standard, uncontroversial statutory instrument legislating on a technical detail, it is one that will directly impact people’s lives. It deserves Parliamentary time.
But even if Parliament debates and rejects the guidance, trans people will still remain in limbo. Only new legislation that restores a definition of sex that matches how people actually live their life, rather than a hard to interpret and enforce technical one that erases people’s identity, will bring back common sense to equality law. A debate on this code of practice must be the start of a process to bring around this change, and this change must include trans voices at every opportunity.
You have previously provided reassurances that you support trans people here in Manchester. Now is the time to put those words in action, and to use your unique position as Deputy Leader of the Labour party to do so. The next few weeks risk enshrining harm for the trans community in statutory guidance. It must not happen silently, and deserves better than being lost in the noise of a proxy leadership battle happening in Makerfield. This must be the turning point to stop the rollback of trans rights in our country.
Although hope is in short supply today for trans people, I await your response with it.
Yours sincerely,

Cllr Chris Northwood (she/her)

Chris Northwood@chrisn· May 11

After last week's election there is a bit of admin to get out of the way in the form of an election for positions in the Liberal Democrat group on Manchester City Council! I'm pleased to report that I was re-elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the group 🎉

Four people stand posing for a photo in the council chamber in Manchester

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Mar 31

Today is #TransDayOfVisibility. Right now we're being pushed into invisibility, especially in light of the UK's Supreme Court ruling, as we see attacks to push us out of fully participating in society. At the same time too few trans voices are actually present in the rooms making those decisions.

Chris Northwood, a white trans woman, stands in front a Progress flag in an office whilst wearing a hi-vis vest

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Mar 6

Recovering from surgery has been a major slog, a lot of managing energy levels, listening to my body and discomfort but so far smooth with only a few minor but common complications! (Photo is from the hospital but I'm home now)

Chris takes a selfie, smiling at the camera wearing a hospital gown, in a hospital room

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jan 26

A meme from the TV show community showing a man walking in with a pile of pizza looking at a scene of chaos before him. The man with the pizza is labelled "Manchester Lib Dems selecting a candidate" and the scene has one man fighting fire labeled "Labour fighting itself" and then people collapsed in the corner labelled "Reform proving themselves as Tories 2.0"

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Dec 25

Merry Christmas from us!

Chris & Meg stand in front of a Christmas tree drinking champagne

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Nov 27

Yesterday was my 4 year HRT-iversary! It's incredible to see how much I've changed and how much happiness and joy I've found in my life from starting transition and embracing who I am rather than ignoring it. Onwards to many more years of happiness and joy.

A blonde woman smiles into the camera, holding two packs of estrogen.

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Nov 20

On today's #TransDayOfRemembrance I'm reminded of this scene from Celeste (a game which draws heavily on trans themes). I was brought to tears when I first played it. So many names every year, it hits hard.

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Oct 19

I have acquired a sit-stand desk and RGB lighting. Feels like I'm entering my e-girl era.

A desk with monitor arms and a mounted laptop, microphone stand and tower on the floor. It is softly lit with LED lights.

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Sep 24

I see people are upset that I won an award for women because I'm the wrong type of woman. I was moved and honoured to have been awarded this by the party's women's group, and that the Lib Dems at all levels have my back and I will continue to fight for liberalism and my community.

Chris Northwood holds a glass award that says The Patsy Calton Award 2025 Liberal Democrats on it in front of a progress pride flag.

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Sep 23

Very proud to have been awarded the Patsy Calton Award at today's #LDConf. Very moved by those who nominated me and that I've inspired others. I've just tried to do the best job I can.

I am wearing a t shirt saying Elect The Dolls and holding a shield given by two presenters

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Sep 20

Doing a look inspired by @tothatzoey.net for #LDConf

Chris Northwood, a blonde trans woman smiles into the camera wearing Pride flag earrings made from Lego studs and black t shirt in the style of "Protect The Dolls" that instead says Elect The Dolls

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Sep 5

I've written to my MP, Lucy Powell, to ask her to stand up for Manchester Central's trans community and ensure Parliamentary scrutiny of the new EHRC code of practice.

Dear Lucy Powell,

I write off the back of media reports that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has in the last few days submitted an updated Code of Practice for ministerial approval.

The draft Code of Practice, if implemented, risks devastating the lives of the many trans people you represent in your constituency, including myself. It would make it impossible for us to live our lives without putting ourselves in dangerous situations, or having to constantly out ourselves. It is crucial that the Code of Practice now receives Parliamentary scrutiny, both to ensure that the EHRC do not undermine the intent of Parliament when it introduced the Equality Act in 2010 in implementing changes that go beyond the Supreme Court ruling, and to ensure that the EHRC have correctly protected the rights of trans people in the code, following the Supreme Court's statement that our rights remain protected.

I have attached the briefing from the Trans Solidarity Alliance which contains more information on the impact of the draft code being implemented. Parliament has a crucial role in scrutinising this work and ensuring that the final code fixes the many issues of the draft. As Leader of the House of Commons, you have an important role in helping ensure that time is made for this scrutiny, and upholding the integrity of Parliament and its intent with the Equality Act.

Manchester Central's trans population is depending on you today to do this. To let a code be implemented without scrutiny puts our ability to live normal lives at risk.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Chris Northwood (she/her)
Liberal Democrat councillor in Ancoats & Beswick

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Aug 15

This came up in my memories today, 10 years since I first saw @soozuk.bsky.social at the Fringe, and have been back almost every year since! We were there again at the weekend, and worth seeing the latest show yourself if you're up!

An empty stage with a microphone and a backdrop that says Sooz Kempner Character Activist @SoozUK - follow me on Twitter. Guarantee follow back. GUARANTEE follow back. A caption at the top of the photo says "10 years ago".

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jul 25

I bought a label printer

Chris Northwood, a blonde trans woman smiles into the camera stood in front of a progress pride flag. A label with the word woman is stuck to her forehead.

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jul 21

The Ashton Canal Bridge is finally open! But I've been asking the question of why there's this random bit of fencing at the end - apparently this is a temporary measure until the Chips cladding work is complete (and scaffolding removed) then the ramp will be able to be smoothed out into a nicer hump

A ramp at the end of the Ashton Canal bridge - a temporary piece of fencing sticks out like a sore thumb

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jun 14

We got engaged :)

Two women smile into a camera on a pier with the beach in the background

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jun 11

ASHTON CANAL BRIDGE UPDATE - this project is well overdue (this photo is a year ago today from the start of the project!) and like many of you I've been asking the council what's going on with it. I've now had an update that due to supplier issues there's been issues with components arriving...

Councillor Chris Northwood stands in front of a construction compound for a bridge across the Ashton Canal

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jun 6

I got my hair done

Chris has blonde hair and pink tips with layers falling across her face

Chris Northwood@chrisn· May 15

I'll be on ITV 1 North West tonight on The Granada Debate at 10.45pm, covering local election results, immigration and the assisted dying bill!

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Mar 31

We bought each other pizza

Two trans girls hold Dominos pizza boxes

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Feb 14

That went well I think :)

A TV with Chris Northwood on it. A subtitle says "and Chris Northwood"

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Feb 13

I'll be on ITV1 Granada tonight at 10:45pm, "The Granada Debate". Talking about Labour's WhatsApp scandals, elected mayor and Labour going right on immigration

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jan 19

Whilst ill I've managed to get my new PC build and after a lot of faffing, RGB lights on the case fan set up how I want :)

A tower PC case (Fractal Design Meshify 2 RGB) on the floor with the front case fans set to the colours of the trans flag

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Jan 4

Busy day out in Ancoats & Beswick today, delivering calendars to residents and tackling issues in our area. Fly tipping reported and also helped a rough sleeper access support needed on cold nights.

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Dec 25

Merry Christmas everyone x

Chris Northwood@chrisn· Dec 10

Today is my "special day", which marks 37 years since my adoption and legally becoming a Northwood :) I'm so lucky to have ended up in such a loving family with my amazing Mum & Dad, who brought me up to who I am today.