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Starmer: Almost no-one is talking about trans issues

580 replies

SidewaysOtter · 03/04/2023 12:13

To quote from the rolling news section of this morning's Times:

"Almost no Britons are “talking about trans issues,” Sir Keir Starmer has said as he questioned why such issues are a focus of political debate.

The Labour leader sought to win over gender critical campaigners and MPs at the weekend, telling The Sunday Times there would be “no rolling back” of women’s rights if the party formed a government.

Speaking to LBC this morning he repeated his position that “for the vast majority — let’s say 99.9 per cent — biology matters” in defining a woman. He said that Labour was trying to agree a “common sense, respectable and tolerant position”, but that it was “not prepared to ignore” the small number of people who identify as a different gender to the one they were born in.

He insisted it was a marginal issue for many voters, however. “As we go around the country campaigning, I talk to thousands and thousands and thousands of people. They want to talk to me about the cost of living crisis, about the fact they can’t pay their bills, they want to know what they’re going to do about their council tax,” he said.

“Almost nobody is talking about trans issues. I do sometimes just wonder why on earth we spend so much of our time discussing something which isn’t a feature of the dinner table or the kitchen table or the café table or the bar.”

Funny, because I think there's quite a lot of people talking about "trans issues". Whether it's the treatment of Posie Parker and the 72-year-old woman who were violently assaulted last weekend, male-bodied people in women's sports/changing rooms/hospital wards/prisons, the medicalisation/mutilation of young adults, or the vilification of those who speak The Terrible Heresy that you cannot change your biological sex. And yes, we're talking about it at the dinner table, the café bar or wherever.

"No rolling back of women's rights" doesn't mean shit if you count men as women, Mr Starmer. And you can wang on about "respect and tolerance" all you like but we know what you really mean by that is wanting us to be quiet and stop being awkward. That isn't going to happen.

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FOJN · 03/04/2023 12:32

I've met with my MP to discuss it. Wrote a long letter to the Labour candidate explaining why I would not vote for her and raised it with both Labour and Libdem canvassers on the doorstep.

Several people have opened a discussion about it with me.

If he thinks people aren't talking about it then he's not listening.

The number of articles in the press about him trying to appeal to female voters gives evidence to the lie and now he's trying to argue that people have more pressing concerns as if the general population is too stupid to hold opinions on multiple issues.

Please fuck off Keir.

PronounssheRa · 03/04/2023 12:32

I seem to recall in the back of my mind that staffers were deliberately holding back these types of concerns from the MPs.

Wish I could remember where I read it. But if that is still happening in the party starmer might well be uninformed

cosmiccosmos · 03/04/2023 12:31

Presumably @PortiasBiscuit you don't ever read newspapers or look at news feeds or listen to the news because it's constantly in the news. It came up during the recent Scottish SNP leadership contest, it comes up all the time in political debates.

Because Kier thinks a man with a penis is a woman if they say so, it will continue to come up.

Remember, if you cannot accurately define your target audience you cannot help them. If you can't define a woman, you can't help and support women. If you think anyone is who they say they are then carnage will ensue.

sanluca · 03/04/2023 12:30

Aaron95 · 03/04/2023 12:26

He's right. MN is a massive bubble with regards to trans issues. If you were to poll people at random I doubt 10% would have it in their top 10 concerns.

How many people go up to KS and say self id is in my top 10 of points that need to be implemented asap?

I bet it is a lot less than the number of people asking for self id NOT to be implemented...

Wellies54 · 03/04/2023 12:30

Well, he's right, No one is really talking about trans issues. People are not worrying about whether trans people need more rights or self Id.

What people ARE talking about is the erosion of women's rights. People ARE talking about the way safeguarding is being disregarded. People ARE talking about the physical and mental damage being done to vulnerable young people in the name of gender affirmation.

And if people are not talking about it, that's only because they are unaware of the issue. Once people wake up to these issues they cannot look away because it is so unbelievable that politicians are so easily manipulated.

PronounssheRa · 03/04/2023 12:29

PortiasBiscuit · 03/04/2023 12:21

I think he’s right, it’s only on MN that I’ve come across this issue really.

A group of men were talking about it in my local just after sturgeon resigned. I overheard the conversation which started with 'don't get me started on that gender bollocks'

Rainbowshit · 03/04/2023 12:29

He's wrong. Among my family and friends this topic comes up pretty much every time.

My bestie's mum group were all self IDing as TERFs.

At my sports club it is talked about frequently.

Even at work to a more limited extent trans issues are mentioned regularly in a "safe" way.

They are completely out of touch if they think no one is talking about this.

ReadersD1gest · 03/04/2023 12:28

Aaron95 · 03/04/2023 12:26

He's right. MN is a massive bubble with regards to trans issues. If you were to poll people at random I doubt 10% would have it in their top 10 concerns.

Do you think Mumsnet users are a breed apart from the general public, then? 🤔

Ndd135632 · 03/04/2023 12:28

Aaron95 · 03/04/2023 12:26

He's right. MN is a massive bubble with regards to trans issues. If you were to poll people at random I doubt 10% would have it in their top 10 concerns.

I think you’ll find a mighty lot more worried about violence against women and women’s safety which is what this is all about at heart.

xabia · 03/04/2023 12:28

So World Athletics, FINA and UK Athletics haven't mentioned trans issues provoking huge debates in the media and in people's homes? Okaaaay ...

Broadbeachshallow · 03/04/2023 12:27

Look, he's found a way to be disingenuous and insulting at the same time. Way to go!

Shelefttheweb · 03/04/2023 12:27

It is another attempt at #NoDebate.

Aaron95 · 03/04/2023 12:26

He's right. MN is a massive bubble with regards to trans issues. If you were to poll people at random I doubt 10% would have it in their top 10 concerns.

megletthesecond · 03/04/2023 12:26

Easy to claim no one is talking about it when you've ignored two complaints from a (now ex) Labour member.

CandyLeBonBon · 03/04/2023 12:25

PortiasBiscuit · 03/04/2023 12:21

I think he’s right, it’s only on MN that I’ve come across this issue really.

It gets talked about a lot in my life!

Ndd135632 · 03/04/2023 12:25

PortiasBiscuit · 03/04/2023 12:21

I think he’s right, it’s only on MN that I’ve come across this issue really.

Really? What kind of bubble are you living in? All my mates are now talking about this issue. It’s terrifying.

BorisisaLune · 03/04/2023 12:25

It very much bothers me BUT when i'm out with friends, no one and i mean no one mentions it, i asked my DD the other day if she or her friends ever talk about it, she said no one talks about it.

For her generation (20s), its about rents, wages, jobs, cost of living.

MaireadMcSweeney · 03/04/2023 12:25

He's such a fucking idiot. What a disappointment.

AdamRyan · 03/04/2023 12:25

I think he's dancing on the head of a pin:
"for the vast majority — let’s say 99.9 per cent — biology matters” in defining a woman."
I think he's categorising that conversation as about womens rights, then it's accurate to say most people aren't talking about trans rights

In which case he's basically trying to get the TRA position "trans women are women" off the table.

A huge political fudge basically

Fenlandia · 03/04/2023 12:24

This is just a politician version of the men who tweet "but where are all the feminists?" when things happen with men in women's prisons or sports. It's like our shrill ladyvoices don't register with some blokes.

AutumnCrow · 03/04/2023 12:23

PortiasBiscuit · 03/04/2023 12:21

I think he’s right, it’s only on MN that I’ve come across this issue really.

Don't you look at the news, then?

AutumnCrow · 03/04/2023 12:23

That's funny. I had a specific appointment with my Labour MP last week to talk specfically about 'women's rights, children's safeguarding and extreme gender ideology'. He's a Labour front bencher, no less.

Prior to that I spoke to my Labour councillor about the same concerns on my door step. He said he was 'hearing quite a bit of that, to be honest'.

I have sent a postcard to every Labour councillor, asking them to protect same-sex services for women like me.

Starmer's lying.

ReadersD1gest · 03/04/2023 12:22

PortiasBiscuit · 03/04/2023 12:21

I think he’s right, it’s only on MN that I’ve come across this issue really.

Try travelling further than the end of your street...

TheirEminence · 03/04/2023 12:22

How can we possibly convince him that the people of Britain are talking about this? Claiming public space via stickering and events? Sending more letters to Labour MPs and local councillors? Or is he just lying?

PortiasBiscuit · 03/04/2023 12:21

I think he’s right, it’s only on MN that I’ve come across this issue really.