Keir Starmer on Sophy Ridge

[EdgeOfACoin]

On just now.

Asked about trans rights. Said that they didn't go far enough and the current process to transition is demeaning.

Criticised both sides (ie TRAs and feminists) for 'tearing lumps' out of each other.

Expressed sympathy for women who were victims of domestic violence but refused to say whether refuges should be single-sex or not (fence-sitting).

[HermioneWeasley]

He’s a two faced bastard

[GCAcademic]

He must be the most spineless fence-sitter ever to have led a political party.

[EdgeOfACoin]

I note he didn't spout the TWAW mantra, but he did pull out the 'trans rights are human rights' card.

(Note to newcomers - I'm pretty sure everyone on this board agrees that trans rights are human rights. We just disagree as to whether trans rights are women's rights.)

[BlackForestCake]

I told you so.

[Wrongsideofhistorymyarse]

Hateful bastard

[BaronessWrongCrowd]

This is why I won't vote Labour again.

[TheABC]

Well, at least it's out in the open. The Labour party do not give a toss about women.

[sashagabadon]

I actually don’t think Keir has anything politically to lose from a more pro woman position. He could clearly say that there is a need to protect women’s refuges, sports etc and to campaign for more trans services. Most women would be happy with that as a position?
Those in the left that are TWAW no debate seem to hate him anyway for being Blair like and in any case it would do him a favour if they left Labour and started their own thing.
Many in the left can see that there should be instances when sex does matter and would imo accept this position if he just came out and said it.
Anyway if he carries on fence sitting like this he’ll lose in 2024 as many women just won’t vote for him and it’ll become THE question at every debate and media interview and it doesn’t have to be that way.

[bourbonne]

Did he say anything about dysphoria, mental health etc? Or did he talk about it as if it was purely a civil rights question and trans people just "are", "get over it"?

[OvaHere]

Hardly surprising. Labour are a lost cause.

[Moonstone1234]

If Labour keep on like this with their useless leaders they will be in Opposition for the next 10-20 years.

Corbyn was a real low point and although I would never vote for them it is good to have a strong opposition. I cannot think of anyone who could be a good replacement- I read that there is talk of bringing back McDonnell!!!!

The person who did I did like though was Alan Johnson. His rant on Election Day to the Momentum leader during a tv interview was fabulous.

[MoltenLasagne]

And there we have it. How many of us wrote to Labour and our MPs on the back of Alex Sobel (Labour MP) saying he opposes women's rights to single sex prisons and refuges? And still Keir Starmer won't actually defend the right of female abuse victims to single sex spaces. Clearly our votes aren't wanted.

[EdgeOfACoin]

@bourbonne

Did he say anything about dysphoria, mental health etc? Or did he talk about it as if it was purely a civil rights question and trans people just "are", "get over it"?

In fairness it was a part of a longer interview that covered a wide range of topics. It didn't go into too much depth on this issue.

I don't recall him mentioning anything about mental health problems.

He did start to answer the first question by saying that trans people are the most abused and oppressed in society.

[MoltenLasagne]

Yes, if someone like Alan Johnson was in charge of the Labour Party we'd at least have a chance of them listening to the wider electorate and perhaps being a decent opposition.

For anyone who missed it, this is a fantastic rant at the student politics of Momentum:

[thinkingaboutLangCleg]

I hoped Starmer would be better. Very sad. I think the general public are more aware than any political party so far, except the Communist party, on principle, and the Tories because they know their members aren’t into this kind of fad.

[Biscuitsanddoombar]

Looks like I’m spoiling my ballot paper then

[highame]

Trans rights are human rights, but they are not women's rights. I like that OP.

I think Sir Keir is very aware of the backlash he will get, if he comes out for women. Momentum will leave and Keir will then be held responsible for reducing the labour party membership which is (don'tya know) the biggest party in Europe. What good that does if you can't win an election, is anybodies guess!

[Moonstone1234]

Better say I am a Conservative voter but a strong opposition will keep the other side on their toes.

I don’t know what it is about Johnson, the fact he was a postman, that he didn’t become woke, that he comes across as a thoroughly decent man that wanted to make a difference and improve all our lives. Abbott, Corbyn and Macdonell were basket cases and no one had the nerve to remove them from public office.

[sashagabadon]

@highame

Trans rights are human rights, but they are not women's rights. I like that OP.

I think Sir Keir is very aware of the backlash he will get, if he comes out for women. Momentum will leave and Keir will then be held responsible for reducing the labour party membership which is (don'tya know) the biggest party in Europe. What good that does if you can't win an election, is anybodies guess!

But the membership hold Labour back in my view. They are a stone weight around his neck. They are so far off what the public think about so many things that they are not an asset anymore if they ever were, they are a liability.
He would be better off losing most of them particularly the momentum lot.
There’s no point in a massive membership if they actually make you make policies that lose you elections.

[EdgeOfACoin]

Given that Labour haven't won an election since 2005, perhaps they should worry a little less about Momentum and a little more about the general electorate.

[MishyJDI]

@thinkingaboutLangCleg

I hoped Starmer would be better. Very sad. I think the general public are more aware than any political party so far, except the Communist party, on principle, and the Tories because they know their members aren’t into this kind of fad.

Lols. I thought over the years many of the Tories have been caught out in the Daily Mail for Crossdressing. Ha ha.

[Moonstone1234]

Sasha. Totally agree, they are in their own echo chambers. I always thought that if I was say Labour that I would employ some right wing people to come and tell us honestly what our policies sound like before being launched.

But they don’t do this and make themselves a laughing stock.

[PronounssheRa]

He did start to answer the first question by saying that trans people are the most abused and oppressed in society

Every time someone uses this line they should be asked on what evidence they base this assertion, and hate incidents done count we know how they are misused to game the system

[EdgeOfACoin]

I don’t know what it is about Johnson, the fact he was a postman, that he didn’t become woke, that he comes across as a thoroughly decent man

Moonstone for the briefest of split seconds I thought you were talking about Boris!!

[CotleyMew]

Aah... Captain Hindsight 😆😆