Kirkup in Telegraph on Victoria Atkins

[jgrobinson]

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/27/victoria-atkins-deserves-praise-not-vilification-speaking-transgenderism/

This post was edited by MNHQ

This is accompanied by an article quoting several MPs who spoke out in Victoria Atkins defence.

Here is link to the related news piece:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/27/transgender-activists-accused-attempting-shut-downdebate/

More applause for James for another CRACKING piece.
Thank you for sharing, OP.

Very interesting details about the chilling effect in Westminster. Seems everyone is scared.
How can a tiny tiny minority of people have this power over limiting freedom of speech, assembly, and thought?
What is going on?
There is a consultation happening.
We should be allowed to talk about this!

Thank you! And thank you too, James.

Just a heads up, James has asked for people not to copy and paste the whole article.

Yes another v good article. I’ve noticed in the past few days, since the scandal about Aimee Challenor and their father, there are a lot more ( mainly women ) on Twitter being more and more unafraid to say what they really think about these issues. And each comment in turn, emboldens others.

I think we’re on the verge of a tipping point as more and more pp see the trans ideology for what it really is.

Agree Destiny and more gay men have been standing up for women which I have really appreciated.

When you see James K's description of the breadth and depth of the 'fear' felt by government, journalists, public figures and organisations, it makes me shiver. He lays it all out.

Mumsnet and Feminists and Sceptics and allies in the press have been the Human Shield - bearing the brunt of extraordinary persecution and intimidation, but providing cover for the rest.

I cannot express how upset and furious I am that a serious safeguarding matter is not being taken seriously because of 'fear of sounding mean' and being on the wrong side of history.

It's a very powerful article and I am so, so grateful for it.

You are a gem, JK. Thank you

Out of courtesy, can the OP be deleted, with just a link to the Telegraph article.

Thanks.

Last month, a Cabinet minister told me: “There are real issues here, and I’d like to speak about them, but frankly I’m scared to.”

A cabinet minister? A fucking cabinet minister??

I don't get it. These people are running the country. There aren't many of them. Just get together and collectively decide that you can say don't be silly now, there's no way a rapist can be locked up with vulnerable women who can't escape.

For a start.

I mean come on. The cabinet??

I've asked this a million times - who is pulling the strings? You don't get to the point where cabinet ministers are scared to speak on the backs of a few Twitter warriors. Someone/some group is putting pressure on in a sustained, strategic way to attempt to suppress dissent even at the highest level. So, who are they?

Another sub to take out. Tel Times and spectator.

This is proper reporting. It's important to support the publications that are engaging in serious coverage. Thanks to the Telegraph and well done securing those MPs' comments, and thanks to JK.

Thank you once again James Kirkup. And thanks to Victoria Atkins too.

Datun I agree this quote

Last month, a Cabinet minister told me: “There are real issues here, and I’d like to speak about them, but frankly I’m scared to.”

floored me. The cabinet are too scared? The cabinet?! What chance do is mere women on the street stand?

*us mere women

Why are cabinet ministers more afraid of twitter than of opinion polls?

Thanks again James

I am so heartsore and angry at the moment. This give a bit of hope

...but some of the commentators. Jeez

The comments

A lot of angry men in those comments. Feels like we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place! They’re no friend to women either...

Thank you again James Kirkup.

And if any of these scared Cabinet Ministers are reading - what the fucking fuck is the matter with you? What exactly did you go into politics for?

After Jo Cox, I can well imagine MP's being scared. After her murder some of the other female Ministers spoke out about the massive amount of threats and abuse they got online. Some of them must feel very vulnerable. But Cabinet Ministers? They're mostly men. They should be speaking out. If they can't, lots of others will feel they can't too and so this whole thing is allowed to gather pace

I subscribe to the Telegraph. Politically I'm miles away on a lot of issues but it's got decent news coverage and some good feature writing. Can hardly bear to read the Guardian these days, what has the world come to? Or what has the Guardian come to more like- I started reading it in 1989.

Using regular citizens, women who are at risk of losing their jobs or being violently attacked, as a shield is frankly, despicable.

Our government ministers are cowards, and I for one have lost every sense of respect for these so-called representatives.

They don't represent me.