The Labour leadership has a problem with reality. The promotion of the more extreme elements of trans activism is just one aspect of a wider disease
e..g.
Homeopathy
Jeremy Corbyn was one of 206 MPs to sign the March 2007 Early Day Motion 1240 calling for the positive recognition of NHS homeopathic hospitals[1].
Following the publication of the House of Commons' Science and Technology Committee's report "Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy" in February 2010, Corbyn signed Early Day Motion 908: Science and Technology Committee Report on Homeopathy, which was critical of the report[2].
He was asked on Twitter why he had signed EDM 908[3]. He replied:
jeremycorbyn @leftoutside I believe that homeo-meds works for some ppl and that it compliments 'convential' meds. they both come from organic matter... (7:33 PM Mar 5th)[4]
In May 2011, Jeremy Corbyn signed Early Day Motion 1820 which welcomed a campaign to "place homeopathy research on the national agenda as a credible scientific field of inquiry" and called for the Government to facilitate research into homeopathy[5].
During the 2016 Labour leadership campaign, Mr Corbyn was asked by the group Scientists for Labour about the NHS "funding alternative and homeopathic medicine". He answered:
I don't support the NHS spending taxpayers’ money on medicine where it is not backed up by clear, scientific evidence as to its effectiveness.[6]
Herbal Medicines
Jeremy Corbyn has signed a number of Early Day Motions that support the use of herbal medicines. These include EDM 1103: Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (2005)[7], EDM 1549: Herbal Clinic at The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital (2008)[8], EDM 2080: Herbal Remedies (2008)[9], and EDM 295: Statutory Registration of Herbalists (2009)[10].
skeptical-voter.org/index.php?title=Jeremy_Corbyn#Homeopathy
Homeopathy
John McDonnell was one of 206 MPs to sign the March 2007 Early Day Motion 1240 calling for the positive recognition of NHS homeopathic hospitals[2].
Following the publication of the House of Commons' Science and Technology Committee's report "Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy" in February 2010, Mr McDonnell signed Early Day Motion 908: Science and Technology Committee Report on Homeopathy, which was critical of the report[3].
In June 2010, Mr McDonnell signed Early Day Motion 342: British Medical Association Motions on Homeopathy[4] which expressed regret at a number of motions passed at the recent BMA annual representative meeting that "oppose further commissioning and funding of homeopathic remedies in the NHS", and "notes that 140 books have been published on homeopathy and that there is overwhelming anecdotal evidence that homeopathy is effective".
In July 2012 Mr McDonnell spoke to homeopathy campaigners at a meeting in the House of Commons about their concerns about potential restrictions to access to homeopathy (e.g. Medicines Act, NHS funding of homeopathy). It was reported (by a supporter of homeopathy) that Mr McDonnell would table an Early Day Motion and "ask MPs to have ministerial meeting to gain some assurance"[5]. Such an EDM does not appear to have been proposed.
Herbal Medicines
In November 2009, John McDonnell proposed Early Day Motion 295: Statutory Registration of Herbalists[6]. The motion stated:
That this House notes that certain herbal medicines, including Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, Kampo, traditional Tibetan medicine, Unani Tibb and western herbal medicine, may be effectively outlawed in the UK by the EU unless statutory regulation is introduced by the Government before April 2011, and that the Government's recent consultation on this issue has concluded; and therefore calls on the Government to bring forward promptly a statutory system for registering and regulating herbalists, acupuncturists and practitioners of other traditional medicine systems to meet the EU requirements and thus ensure that patients continue to have access to the full range of traditional medicines they are currently able to receive.
Mr McDonnell has signed a number of other Early Day Motions that support the use of herbal medicines. These include EDM 1103: Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (2005)[7], EDM 1549: Herbal Clinic at The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital (2008)[8], and EDM 2080: Herbal Remedies (2008)[9].
skeptical-voter.org/index.php?title=John_McDonnell
If the Labour leadership do not comprehend science and medicine why should we expect them to understand sex?
Of course this is not just a problem with Labour. Frankly other parties are just as bad.
Is it too much to expect of our politicians that they possess at least a basic understanding of science reality?
Should be be exploring issues around starting a new, science and evidence based political party? I think the enswer is "yes"
