James Murray on R4 just now - TWANW

There's no way to know if he is lying, but I strongly suspect he is one of the labour MPs who secretly hated the SC ruling (same with Olivia Bailey). Just my opinion

It was "I wouldn't say that phrase any more." rather than TWANW.

The phrasing is intentionally vague. Means if society/law ever were to go pro-trans, he could revert to saying TWAW

100%

This is excellent news.

I think it does matter......because if the new health secretary is saying one thing publicly, and acting on it ( sex is biological and we need to protect single sex provisions), even if he secretly would prefer a different outcome it no longer matters.

It is VERY important that the Health Secretary says this when the leader of the third largest party in the Commons the Lib Dems is spouting nonsense. The fight is not over:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5536296-ed-davey-says-the-ehrc-code-has-failed-in-its-objective-and-calls-for-post-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-gra-ea-presumably-to-legally-allow-blokes-in-the-ladies?page=1

Also take the win. Celebrate it.

A bunch of brave people,mostly women, fought to get our politicians to say women were real when they were reluctant to do so. It was absurd it had to happen, but it is amazing it did. In many countries the truth cannot be spoken.

Lots more to do, but we are moving forward.

It was "I wouldn't say that phrase any more." rather than TWANW.

I don't think it matters whether you believe it literally or not, the outcome is the same; you think transwomen should be in women's spaces. When you say TWAW, that is what you are saying you want.

This made me laugh - can they hear themselevs?

"Happy Pride month everyone :( Bigots do love being extra-shitty on our days"

They get the whole of June as their days now and nobody can say anything to support women in June? God, the entitlement.

Also this: "He's a Labour MP so of course he's going to be a transphobe."

Lesson to the woke, nothing is ever good enough for these entitled men and they will eventually turn on you, no matter how politically correct and TWAW you are. See also Russell T Davies.

True believers in 'the faith', maybe, rather than in the idea that males are actually female.

Did he actually say "I don't think transwomen are actually women" or did he just say "I wouldn' use that phrase anymore"?

To my mind he is being careful with his words and in a way which is politically expedient. However; I'll take that. In the long run it is most important that people stop employing mantras and slogans that have been created simply to enforce group think. Nobody really believes that men are women.

They believe it as a matter of principal more than a matter of science. And yes I do think he and other labour MP are silently true believers who are keeping their real feelings to themselves in order to get power

I think a lot of people were in a lot of training sessions being told about how hard it is to be trans/queer etc. They fundamentally want people to be happy so they go along with the premise because that’s what people want and people will be happier.
“I’m a nice guy, look, I pay attention in training and I’m proud to be an ally!”.

They get emails complaining, and hear the shrill whispers of bigoted women (faintly, in the distance) and ignore them because 1. Women, 2. Shrill, 3. Their own work is important and busy and they mustn’t be interrupted by those shrill whispering bigots in the distance, getting all emotional about nothing, silly girls.

Then comes the Supreme Court decision, and perhaps some people they know and love or respect agree with it, so they have a little think and the penny drops.

Ah, well, no of course TW are not actual, literal Women! It’s a courtesy we extend to show we’re allies, but it doesn’t actually mean anything concrete….!

He's a politician and has done what is politically expedient to do. Unfortunately, what we need from our politicians is courage and integrity. The trans issue has been fantastic in allowing the public to see who meets the challenge. Alas, the result is very few. Most of them are cowards and liars.

I also don't think he ever actually believed it - I don't think most people who say it really do.

It's a bit like the gabbled terms and conditions at the end of a radio ad, they have a mental footnote on the statement...

"Trans Women Are Women!"
<obviously they're not literally women I mean I wouldn't shag one lol but omg I'll be in so much trouble if I don't think this and I'm a nice person who is kind so yup twaw>

Is it a ladder-climbing move though, if everyone thinks Andy Burnham is about to take over? Could be he's read the polls and knows it's the popular opinion. But why can't someone change their mind? I know I did when I started to think critically about it. If he's thinking about the health brief, he's got some of the most obvious issues staring him in the face.

Agree. We need people in positions of power and influence to be saying this, even if we're inclined to dislike them or distrust their motives. I hope this is a considered statement and he's prepared to back it up with action to support the Supreme Court ruling.

That this is unusual is a step in the right direction but omg the pain to get here!

You're right of course. That golden bridge and all that.

But it's very hard to be gracious after all the enraging ridiculous TWAW nonsense in recent years that politicians like him have used to do so much damage to women and chlldren. .

Agree. He was prepared for the question and almost seemed reprieved to be able to give a straightforward answer - I’ve given the issue a lot of thought and I’ve changed my mind.

Brave or not, it is reassuring to hear the new Health Secretary understands his responsibilities following the Supreme Court ruling. The proof will be in how quickly all those illegal, discriminatory local NHS policies are corrected to bring them in line with the law (as it always was).

This is how I see things.

And that makes it noteworthy!

Nobody, absolutely nobody, believes TWAW. It's just a thought-stopping cliche to signal your tribe. That it is now becoming common, amongst our unethical politicians, to tell the truth, on this matter at least, means it must now be more expedient to tell the truth and not play along with the fantasy.

😂😂

Another one pleased he's finally grown up. As Health secretary he'd be dangerous denying reality.

If we can’t accept someone in such an important position changing their mind, or saying they have, what do we want? To me, it was a massive moment

He pretended he was a staunch trans ally for years and then stopped pretending as soon as he got a big job promotion.

He didn't hear arguments all of a sudden and bravely change his mind.