JKR in The Times. Labour have dismissed women like me

The tories are so shit that JKR is now the official opposition.

Exactly what I think 😄

I know lots of people say this issue is still fairly niche. And be that as it may. It's still the issue that can make him look unbelievably awful. Really easily.

Sadly, when Starmer talks about the toxic debate I believe that he does believe GC people are the nasty ones.

I terms of the bell curve you have:

TRA/MRA

 Allies - be kind

       Not interested
       Interested but not concerned &
       Duh. Humans can't change sex

 Pre-peaked and interested

GC.

Starmer & his wife graduated in the 1980's and became lawyers with Mrs S later retraining in occupational therapy & working in a north London hospital. They have supported progressive causes all their adult lives. The people they surround themselves with are progressive and they no doubt supported friends in winning rights for gay people to live as they choose. Many of us on these boards have held similar views.

But we don't live in a bubble and being allies ended [for me] when I saw how damaging TRAs demanding their rights was for women. I just don't think the Starmers are there yet. And cautious and lawyerly as he is, he might be able to acknowledge the biology, but he can't admit -and perhaps can't see - the harm the trans rights movement can do. He wants JKR & Rosie Duffield to pipe down and stop making this so difficult.

When he says we should detoxify the debate, I'm afraid he means GC women.

Yes. And it's a measure of how untrustworthy he comes across that we all think that might happen. However I'm sure she would publicise everything he said. Get it all out there, and make it transparent.

She appears to be extremely considered about exactly what she says and when she says it. She has an exceptional sixth sense for impact.

So her writing that article, every word, and the exact timing would, to me, be strategic.

So I bet she would genuinely like to talk to Starmer to make him understand. It's so characteristic of this bloody issue, that we all think if only we said this or this, everything else would fall into place.

Unfortunately, it's equally characteristic that people still carry on in this insane way. I think a PP hit the nail on the head up thread by saying that the TRA faction in the Labour Party must hold tremendous power.

Everybody else can see the writing on the wall.

There's a reason why he can't. Or won't.

The next few days are really going to be bloody interesting.

The tories are so shit that JKR is now the official opposition.

I love her and think she’s absolutely amazing. We’re so lucky to have someone so eloquent and talented and knowledgeable on our side.

This on Twix has just made me laugh:
JKRowling;
'Labour giving the same energy as a man who's been shagging a woman from work but thinks his wife should be cool about it because he's always put the bins out.'
https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1804846509856334110

I am going to enjoy imagining that meeting.

Having the Mumsnet Manifesto brought into the discussion would be great too 👍

I’m sure you’re right about her determination. JKR will have sat through her fair share of patronising meetings - her alone in a room full of suits - and she’s been hugely successful at holding her own in those circumstances so I’m sure she can continue to do so. It’s whether or not any assurances given to her by Starmer pre-election will be held to post-election that’s a worry.

If I were JKR, I'd only agree on condition that Rosie Duffield and representatives from the Labour Women's Declaration were there too.

And Justine Roberts brandishing the mumsnet manifesto.

It would be nothing short of miraculous if they actually started to bloody well listen to what women were saying.

JKR has been a staunch labour supporter, she's donated. She's the world's leading, best loved children's author. She's a mother and she's political.

She's got tremendous clout.

And, best of all, she's absolutely determined to air her views publicly. We know the gender critical attitude is persuasive, because it's right. And as a clever, creative writer she puts it across perfectly.

If I was Starmer, I'd be bricking it.

If this issue can, as we all predicted, make him look like an absolute sexist twat, it's going to be brought up every five seconds.

And there's no one better to bring it up than JK Rolling.

I bet he's desperate to get her on side. And I bet she's equally determined to totally hold the line.

When the Tories proposed amending the Equality Act, which was only a couple of weeks ago, Labour were gleeful in their dismissal of the whole issue. Now they're talking about a meeting with JKR? Something feels off, although that might just be a sign of how little I trust them these days.

If I were JKR, I'd only agree on condition that Rosie Duffield and representatives from the Labour Women's Declaration were there too.

Campbell is too busy cosplaying 'man of the people' during Euro 24 🙄

I thought Syed's piece was OK, and the broader point about Starmer's flip-flopping is worth making. I didn't reading it as diminishing JKR in any way.

Alastair Campbell was asked on TwX for his comment on the JKR Times piece. Not bothered to read it apparently (sorry can't link).

How can he be so dismissive? Does he really not think it's worthy of discussion?

I think a meeting could be interesting if KS would go into it ready to listen. But he might be going into any potential meeting with the idea of managing the public narrative or keeping JKR happy so she’ll stay quiet. Honestly, the man is such a political cypher that I could see it going either way and not be surprised. He just has never behaved in a way that makes me want to trust him on women’s rights.

He’s like a lot of modern Prime Ministers, they seem to want the job just for the sake of having the job and they have no moral vision or grand plan for the country that they can articulate. They’re MPs and they want a promotion and PM is the top job so why not go for it - politics feels more and more like middle management these days.

100% this.

That would be amazing!

Yes, a "proper" commentator has come along.

Of course, as with almost all of his articles, he managed to annoy me at least once.
But, while I share those feelings, mine extend deeper. I worry that a future Labour government will genuflect before any campaign with sufficient momentum. was today's moment. I completely understand the argument he goes on to make, but it just, as is often the case with him (and many of his male colleagues at The Time) got my back up.... "like this is an annoying issue and I agree with JKR, but really, it's just one issue. There are potentially so many other, even MORe important issues"

I keep thinking that the statement labour put out, that they've put out before and we've all sort of rolled our eyes at, could have been used more or less as is, BUT WITH KS's name attached to it and it would have been different. Even better if it had included an actual acknowledgement that his original comments were wrong and uninformed.

I think KS will be rattled a bit today.

I heard on the radio last night that KS is now asking to meet with JKR to discuss Labour’s support for women.

She’s got the issue finally being taken seriously (not dismissed as a few middle age Karen’s clutching their pearls) and fully onto the election map with analysis of it coming from political journalists . Quite a different approach. Yet another reason to be grateful to JKR.

Me too! I do wonder how she can stand it unless she is power mad too and will sacrifice her principles and beliefs to see him get into Downing Street

If my DH was into gender woo (or appeared to be), I'd have divorced him by now.

i do wonder what are Victoria Starmer red lines? She is Jewish and a biological woman not a comfortable combination to be when your husband hasn’t shown himself to be supportive about both your realities

This exchange in the comments made me laugh:

dilys syed
3 HOURS AGO
"Back of the net"
ReplyRecommended (45)Share

• Matthew Syed STAFF
• 3 HOURS AGO
• "Thanks mum! "
• ReplyRecommend (66)

Well, now a bloke's saying essentially the same thing as JKR perhaps Starmer will listen.

This isn't a criticism of Matthew Syed. I'm glad he's speaking up. I hope more people do.

Matthew Saed's comment in the Times:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/0a41a299-70bd-453e-920c-d68ca22d0fcf?shareToken=bd6a01f8d5994228a5e37c7ce28c53ff