Joanna Cherry in parliament on IWD

Thankyou for starting this thread. Joanna Cherry is an inspired and inspirational speaker. So good to read the positive comments below the you tube video, one stood out for me

“If we can’t protect the many, we can’t protect the few.”

Something TRA supporters should remember.

@DomesticatedZombie

Kimiko just because you disagree with her doesn't make her 'deranged'! .

She sued the government and won - she is undoubtedly a very clever woman!

Who was the woman behind her playing with her phone? So rude.

Fantastic speech. Have sent to my #bekind 16 year old DD in the hope that she will watch it.
Vain hope but I can try.

Soz - HAG 'et rat meat. Without the hag it loses impetus somewhat ...

'I am an evil Tory bigot' is inspired!

I also love 'Ratchet ah rat germ' for Margaret Thatcher and (although it's not a complete anagram) 'Hat 'et rat meat'.

That's because I'm very childish

Bit of a derail, but he is Virginia Bottomley's husband. Virginia Bottomley was a health minister in Major's cabinet and was always staunchly pro- choice. What is interesting is that before they married Virginia was pregnant and then a mother, aged 19 at Essex University.

The pregnancy clearly didn't hinder either career but it's the sort of situation that can make people anti- choice (the "wasn't a problem for me" mindset) rather than being empathetic to others.

Bit of a derail, but Virginia Bottomley used to be my MP (before I was old enough to vote) and her name is an anagram of "I'm an evil Tory bigot". Which is funny even if she hasn't necessarily done anything to deserve that name.

I agree with a PP that this issue is driving women towards the right.

I am being forced to contemplate voting Tory for the first time. My MP is Jeremy Hunt (who is also Virginia Bottomley's cousin!) and I used to think he is awful, but you know... everything's relative isn't it?

She is magnificent. Felt like cheering from behind my screen to hear this speech, and so welcomed the public championing of Maya Forstater and Kathleen Stock. The hounding of Stock to her resignation was to me one of the lowest points I've seen in my lifetime for women's rights and the (already extremely precarious) future of the UK higher education system. Our universities are a mess. Sexual harassment is rife and endemic; I know few female academics without a variation on this theme to speak of. The sex pay gap is far too wide. And it chews up and spits out committed, impassioned lesbian academics if it doesn't happen to like the direction of your research.

These people give their all - their professional lives - to their research and their students. It's a bitter pill to swallow when you realise the system doesn't love you back.

The only comfort is the slow turning of the tide. I can only hope Joanna Cherry is right about this, but as far as universities are concerned I'm not optimistic.

I'm always impressed by someone who can be calm, articulate and use language with such precision. Hats off to you Joanna - I need to carry this clip around with me for when I'm confronted by people who woefully misinterpret the arguments and shout 'transphobe' at every turn.

I've just watched someone basically suggest that all sports should be treated like boxing and be based on height, individual strength, weight and should have no male and female categories, and that all the arguments about how transwomen athletes retain any physical advantages over female athletes is 'all shit' and 'transphobic' and just 'hate'.

It's nice to come back here and listen to someone like JC. And breathe...

Wonderful speech. Truthful and passionate. Refreshing to hear an MP speak with such integrity. No waffle, no bs.

Peter Bottomley is an old-fashioned One Nation Conservative - not many of them left in the HOC now. Bernard Jenkin a bit of a mixed bag. But support is always good.

Mine too @CandyLeBonBon. I’ve never been a fan but he’s just gone up in my estimations!

need many more like her

Joanna Cherry is one of the only reasons I haven't lost hope in Scottish politics entirely. The Scottish Government are determined to torpedo women's rights and I can't praise Joanna enough for holding the line.

Bloody brilliant. Thank you for all you are doing.

I f* love Joanna Cherry

She's bloody wonderful That's the speech I would hope Angela Eagle would make, but no bloody chance. Hope it made her squirm. Doubt it though.

That bit where she says "As a woman and a lesbian my rights are not conditional on my accepting gender identity politics' sent shivers down my spine. So strong and clear, a magnificent woman.

And guess who re-tweeted it? Yes, that other Jo.
twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1501966601947652098

She's just fantastic.

I'm emailing Liz Saville-Roberts (Plaid Cymru woman, sitting right behind her) tomorrow to see if she disagreed with any of JC's speech. She spent a lttle less time on her phone than her neighbour I suppose but seemed attentive for at least part of it.

[email protected] if any others in Wales want to join me.

Fantastic.
She's inspiring.
Keep going Joanna you're changing this.

Just when you think you couldn't admire her anymore. Bravo Joanna Cherry. In awe of your courage and analysis