Ann Widdecombe on the trans debate

Fuck'sake agreeing with Ann Widdecombe now. Can't stand much more of this...

I've been watching a lot of the Triggernometry interviews during lockdown and the one I've found the most fascinating to the point I took notes!? was David Starkey on "Where Woke Culture Comes From".

He seems to have a real dislike and disrespect for women and was already known for having some pretty repellent views even before his latest outburst. Having said that I would imagine he'd "score points" with the woke for being gay and born with a potentially disabling condition.

Do I now have to change my opinion of what he said in that video in light of his misogyny and racism? Should all his books and tv series be banned? Am I personally tainted now because I enjoyed and learned things from that video?

I think Neil Oliver had shown support for JKR and seems to have a GC stance so he was probably already in the cross hairs of the wokesters...

Yes I thought that too.

And, funnily enough, I would say that that a lot of women who argued that pregnant women should be treated with dignity then are the same people arguing that men shouldn't be in women's prisons now

It's almost as though I have been putting women first the whole time.

Love this.

I've often wondered whether Anne Widdecombe is on AIBU. It's the perfect place for her.

I don't understand the "you must be someone I agree with 100% for me to listen to a thing you say" stance that's currently modern society's way. I really don't. I don't agree with anyone 100%, ever. I rarely agree with myself 100%, and sometimes find myself dithering and flopping around from one viewpoint to another, depending on what I'm reading or who I'm speaking to. I guess I thought I was learning and developing, over time. Perhaps I'm just a flibbertigibbet.

I'm all for outspokenness. I'd rather know what people actually thought than have it censored, thank you.

Great respect for you Anne!!

but she was also asking all the right questions at the time when other MPs were too caught up in emotive thinking along the lines of 'these poor people trapped in the wrong body - we must do this to be nice'.The concerns raised by Widdecome, Tebbit and other opponents at the time have now come to pass plus numerous other dreadful consequences that even they couldn't have envisioned back then

That is absolutely true. I think it was TimeLady who posted the Hansard link. Norman Tebbit, Ann Widdecombe could see compelled speech on the
horizon. It's shocking how right they were. Their questions were prescient. And I admire both for having the integrity and intelligence to ask them.

Cross-posted with Abhannmor.

Yes Kit19 I thought it would be that, and also the fact that Neil Oliver is not a supporter of Scottish Independence.

It reminded me of what we've seen in the Damian Barr business. How many of these witch hunts are not about the purported reason but are in fact a way of attacking over a difference grievance.

No , he is unpopular for other reasons. Chiefly his strong pro - unionist interpretation of Scottish history and various snarky opinions about the SNP. As for Widdicombe , this is literally the first thing I've ever agreed with her about .Her support is a bit of a mixed blessing really.

I wouldn't have expected anything less from Ann Widdecombe. Love her or hate her she speaks as she finds. I absolutely agree with her.

I was never a fan of Widdecome as such. Many of her beliefs stem from deeply held religious beliefs which I don't share.

She is however a smart, intelligent woman and you only have to read her Hansard record as part of the GRA Bill debates to see that.

She admits she would have opposed it come what may (religious beliefs) but she was also asking all the right questions at the time when other MPs were too caught up in emotive thinking along the lines of 'these poor people trapped in the wrong body - we must do this to be nice'.

The concerns raised by Widdecome, Tebbit and other opponents at the time have now come to pass plus numerous other dreadful consequences that even they couldn't have envisioned back then

All the warnings signs that this was a terrible bill are right there in the debate records.

Short but quite a lot of content. Her last line 'Will I ever be published again?' highlighting everyone is a potential target hopefully gives some food for thought.

cant bear Widdecombe - never could - she's right on this though.

I assume they're gunning for Neil Oliver because he also publicly supported JKR

I don't quite get the Neil Oliver thing Defenestratethecat. As far as I can see, Darren Grimes tweeted on 29 June that he would be interviewing Starkey to which Oliver made an approving response. The interview went up on youtube on 30 June, and now, several days later Oliver is facing a raging cancellation storm for the contents of the interview (Starkey's vile racist comments) that neither he nor anyone else knew about (at the relevant time).

Did Oliver do anything else to cause the storm?

I also remember - even though I was a fully signed-up lefty at the time - how ageist and misogynistic a lot of the criticism was of her.

I had no idea that Ann Widdecombe used to have a column in the Guardian! That would just be unthinkable now.

It has become almost a cliché to go on about viewpoint diversity and purity spirals but we seem to have regressed in fundamental ways.

Yeah, people are complex. You realise that once you make the effort to really get to know somebody. Not sure our current moment is so conducive to that.

Sorry people AREN'T lionising her. Apologies for the mix up

The Buck Up answers are spot on.

The world is full of people and things. For each person and for each thing, there must be one fact attached, and one only. Otherwise it all becomes impossible to understand.

I feel really sorry for Neil Oliver - the independence mob in Scotland have been gunning for him for a while, urging people to cancel their NTS membership because he's (I think) board chairman and doesn't wholeheartedly support Scottish independence. They'd obviously rather see NTS fail and the properties/land it protects sold off to oligarchs and the like... ...

No-one is right about all they believe, same way no-one is wrong about all they believe.

And, funnily enough, I would say that that a lot of women who argued that pregnant women should be treated with dignity then are the same people arguing that men shouldn't be in women's prisons now.

It's almost as though I have been putting women first the whole time.

But people are lionising her, they just agreed with what she has said on this occasion. You can like someone personally, or have a grudging respect for someone but not agree with them for everything.

Purity tests are stupid and only ever seem to be used to shut people down.