Major Development Starmer has finally agreed to talk to Labour Women's Declaration and listen to their concerns after women talked to him at The Labour Women's Network Gala Dinner. If he sticks with this this means the era of No debate in Labour is totally over.
This looks to be a big win for women and owes everything to those who spent years on this and especially everyone who argued with canvassers about RespectmyX. Starmer can't have missed the pressure. Your voices were heard! You all changed the course of the second most powerful party in the UK.
See this tweet from Joan Smith earlier in the evening: twitter.com/polblonde/status/1527010428764704768
Later Details from LWD Here:
twitter.com/LabWomenDec/status/1527018832229015553
This doesn't mean Starmer or others are going to do what LWD will say or they can be trusted. Nothing can be taken for granted. What happens going forward as always relies on how strong and how loud those who back women's sex based rights in the party are. Lots of battles ahead.
What it does potentially mean is we have a chance for Open Debate at all levels of the party via leadership endorsement and it will be a game changer. Gender Crits may get a proper chance to be heard, but we will be fighting to win support. Have no doubt it would be a vicious long battle like any policy debate inside Labour. However given what LWD has achieved so far you would be foolish to think that these great women and their supporters inside and beyond the party can't pull it off. Especially as the news of Starmer simply talking to LWD may inspire mass resignations from those opposing us. Debating reality openly is not their strong point.
This is the start of a bigger struggle, but a great achievement. I know many reading this will not be ready to trust Labour again and you shouldn't be without proof.
What you should trust though is the strength of Labour women to try to make a difference in the party, it isn't the first time they have had to fight through sexist nonsense, and nothing is going to make them give up.