Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

PM Andy Burham: what next for women's (and children's) rights?

172 replies

BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 13/07/2026 19:23

There didn't seem to be an appropriate existing thread, so -
Given that none of us voted for Andy (I know, I know, Labour won the last election, vote for party, he is new leader...blah blah) -

Any predictions for how bad it could get (puberty blocker trial, Conversion Bill, etc.)? Anything positive to look forward to?

New backing from MPs mathematically guarantees Burnham's coronation

27 more Labour MPs have nominated Andy Burnham to be leader of the Labour Party - making it mathematically impossible for any other leadership contender to challenge him.
^^
349 Labour MPs have now nominated Burnham, up from 322 on Thursday.
A candidate needs 81 nominations to stand - so there now aren't enough Labour MPs left to nominate anyone else.
^^
Burnham will still need the backing of three affiliated organisations and trade unions.

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-burnham-starmer-labour-tories-badenoch-farage-12593360#12052134

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
RunningforSam · 20/07/2026 22:07

I think Burnham is likely to steer clear of all things trans as much as he can. I expect he’ll direct his cabinet to do the same. He wants to get traction on matters that will result in winning back the traditional labour voter who isn’t interested in gender or women’s rights……or anything unrelated to their day to day quality of life.

RunningforSam · 20/07/2026 22:02

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 21:47

What? You'd think even out of pique she would have told him to stick that.

Show quote history

Burnham has made the W&E brief a full cabinet position so she retains the salary and a seat in the cabinet. She wouldn’t turn that down.

JamesKirkupReviewWritersFund · 20/07/2026 22:02

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 21:35

Lucy Powell for Education is not good news at all. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/30/trans-rules-wrong-labour-deputy-contender/

But KCSIE is out now so she has limited room on that front. I would hope given AB’s focus on education and NEETs that she’ll be directed on that front?

Bertiebiscuit · 20/07/2026 21:57

Because the Left has always had a problem with women, and no Labpur government has ever tried to sort it out.

SionnachRuadh · 20/07/2026 21:57

The one I'm concerned about is Lord Chancellor. I know the LC doesn't strictly have to be a lawyer, but it very much helps, and I'm trying to think of parliamentary lawyers who aren't Starmer cronies, and I keep coming back to Thornberry.

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 21:47

Imnobody4 · 20/07/2026 21:40

Bridget Philipson keeps Minister for Women and Equalities.
It's depressing.

What? You'd think even out of pique she would have told him to stick that.

Imnobody4 · 20/07/2026 21:40

Bridget Philipson keeps Minister for Women and Equalities.
It's depressing.

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 21:35

Lucy Powell for Education is not good news at all. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/30/trans-rules-wrong-labour-deputy-contender/

Raquelos · 20/07/2026 21:13

fromorbit · 20/07/2026 20:29

Another significant development.

Former Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has been reappointed to cabinet as the new health secretary.

Cooper is not an ardent TA for sure and in recent years has said pro reality stuff after trying to duck the question earlier.

The big question is will she be brave enough to stop the puberty blocker trial.

Doesn't she have a trans activist son? And didn't she once refuse to answer the question, what is a woman with "I don't want to go down that rabbit hole"? I get the feeling that she will go with whatever the prevailing view is that's to her advantage tbh. I hope I'm wrong.

Ahhh beaten to it by OhBuggerandArse (excellent name btw 🙂)

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 20:57

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 20:51

I found this... https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/nadhim-zahawi-protest-warwick-tories-DWzF8d_2/

Show quote history

Also this:

PM Andy Burham: what next for women's (and children's) rights?
OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 20:51

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 20:50

Any links on Cooper's position? I had thought she would be compromised because Ed Balls her husband certainly seems to be - I had assumed driven by the wish to be supportive to a transitioned person in their family or immediate circle.

Show quote history

I found this... https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/nadhim-zahawi-protest-warwick-tories-DWzF8d_2/

Trans activist son of Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper heckles Zahawi off uni campus | LBC

One of the trans activists who heckled the education secretary Nadhim Zahawi on his visit to Warwick University is the son of Labour politicians Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper, it has emerged.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/nadhim-zahawi-protest-warwick-tories-DWzF8d_2/

OhBuggerandArse · 20/07/2026 20:50

fromorbit · 20/07/2026 20:29

Another significant development.

Former Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has been reappointed to cabinet as the new health secretary.

Cooper is not an ardent TA for sure and in recent years has said pro reality stuff after trying to duck the question earlier.

The big question is will she be brave enough to stop the puberty blocker trial.

Any links on Cooper's position? I had thought she would be compromised because Ed Balls her husband certainly seems to be - I had assumed driven by the wish to be supportive to a transitioned person in their family or immediate circle.

SionnachRuadh · 20/07/2026 20:34

It's starting to look like a cabinet dominated by northern and Midlands MPs with Reform facing constituencies. Which creates a whole different set of incentives from a cabinet dominated by London MPs with Green facing constituencies.

fromorbit · 20/07/2026 20:29

Another significant development.

Former Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has been reappointed to cabinet as the new health secretary.

Cooper is not an ardent TA for sure and in recent years has said pro reality stuff after trying to duck the question earlier.

The big question is will she be brave enough to stop the puberty blocker trial.

SionnachRuadh · 20/07/2026 20:25

I'm sure not many people compare them, but she reminds me a bit of Ann Widdecombe - one of those diminutive fierce women who tell you exactly what they think.

Also, she says "fuck" more than Glinner.

PrancingPanda · 20/07/2026 20:15

I like Shabana too - glad she kept her job!

SionnachRuadh · 20/07/2026 19:49

I think the Laminator has delighted us long enough

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 19:42

BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 20/07/2026 19:29

Have to say, glad to see the back of David Lammy!

Same for that dinosaur line.

SionnachRuadh · 20/07/2026 19:40

I'm a Shabana fan. She's one of the few ministers in this government who's proven effective at getting things done. (Ed Miliband and, in her previous life as transport sec, Lou Haigh got similar reviews)

Today is kind of a day when Burnham still gets to play on easy mode. Good speech, positive vibes - that plays to his strengths. Purging the cabinet of people like Steve Reed or Darren Jones and replacing them with MPs who are actually popular in the PLP - also low hanging fruit.

fromorbit · 20/07/2026 19:33

BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 20/07/2026 19:25

Yes, have been trying to keep an eye on the news. Louise Haigh is also a crook, but then they're all crooks! Maybe she's a crook who understands that men will never be women?

Thanks for the Labour List article, I'll take a look.

ps. meant to say I think it's good news about Mahmood. I think.

Edited
Show quote history

Haigh repeated the whole issues on both sides line in that article, but there definitely signs she may be fairly sane.

Likewise with Healey.

In other news David Lammy has gone extinct and lost his job. Maybe dinosaurs and women are real.

Original poster
BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 20/07/2026 19:29

Have to say, glad to see the back of David Lammy!

OP posts:
Original poster
BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 20/07/2026 19:25

fromorbit · 20/07/2026 19:13

Very significant

Shabana Mahmood has held onto her old job, having been reappointed home secretary

Mahmood is the most prominent sex realist in government keeping her job is a good sign.

Former defence secretary John Healey is moving into No 11, with the top job as chancellor
The former energy secretary Ed Miliband will take over as foreign secretary
Shabana Mahmood has held onto her old job, having been reappointed home secretary
Former transport secretary Louise Haigh is back in the prime minister's top team, serving as first secretary of state and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster

Haigh is also sceptical of gender ideas so a good sign. See her response to Cass Review:

https://labourlist.org/2024/04/trans-gender-policy-stance-cass-review-report-labour/

Need to keep an eye on other appointments to see where wind is blowing. Thus far it doesn't look too bad.

The big question is whether Burnham will abandon the conversion therapy bill and puberty blockers.

Yes, have been trying to keep an eye on the news. Louise Haigh is also a crook, but then they're all crooks! Maybe she's a crook who understands that men will never be women?

Thanks for the Labour List article, I'll take a look.

ps. meant to say I think it's good news about Mahmood. I think.

OP posts:
fromorbit · 20/07/2026 19:13

Very significant

Shabana Mahmood has held onto her old job, having been reappointed home secretary

Mahmood is the most prominent sex realist in government keeping her job is a good sign.

Former defence secretary John Healey is moving into No 11, with the top job as chancellor
The former energy secretary Ed Miliband will take over as foreign secretary
Shabana Mahmood has held onto her old job, having been reappointed home secretary
Former transport secretary Louise Haigh is back in the prime minister's top team, serving as first secretary of state and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster

Haigh is also sceptical of gender ideas so a good sign. See her response to Cass Review:

https://labourlist.org/2024/04/trans-gender-policy-stance-cass-review-report-labour/

Need to keep an eye on other appointments to see where wind is blowing. Thus far it doesn't look too bad.

The big question is whether Burnham will abandon the conversion therapy bill and puberty blockers.

Haigh suggests Labour should be ‘safe space’ for gender-critical but not transphobic views – LabourList

Labour shadow cabinet member Louise Haigh has suggested Labour should be a "safe space" for gender-critical but not transphobic opinions, amid fresh party tensions over…

https://labourlist.org/2024/04/trans-gender-policy-stance-cass-review-report-labour/

Ereshkigalangcleg · 20/07/2026 17:41

BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp · 19/07/2026 12:15

Politics latest: 'Privatisation of water hasn't worked', key Burnham ally Lucy Powell says | Politics News | Sky News

Some choice words from Lucy Powell (Labour Deputy Leader) this morning [my bold]

MPs 'do need to dial invective down' in politics

"But we have to deal with the threat. And the threat comes from this increasingly polarised, increasingly personalised, sometimes quite toxic debate in this country, which is absolutely amplified and made worse in many cases on social media in the way in which social media operates.

"And we do need to dial that down. We need to disagree agreeably once again, if that is possible, and respect the fact that we do have differing views from each other, but we can do that respectfully."

[does that actually mean "respectfully" or "women budge over for the men... respectfully", Lucy?]

The Manifesto:

"This is a project and a mission over time, reorienting the focus and the priority of the Labour government on the foundations that have been laid over the last two years on the basis of our 2024 manifesto. But refocusing and reprioritising the government to these bigger, bolder outcomes and missions."
[translation: we're going to rewrite the Labour manifesto without the backing of a general election win]

Relevant to what we’re talking about on another thread, I think.

Grammarnut · 20/07/2026 17:30

Some of his ideas on re-nationalising utilities I agree with - private companies have milked the population for too long.
However, Corbyn was wheeled out this afternoon and asked about Gaza and said that previous government was wrong to back Israel which was committing genocide (they are not - what happened to Gaza does not meet the definition of genocide i.e. no intent). This is as worrying as Burnham's views on gender ideology. Also, wheeling out Corbyn taints any good ideas Burnham might have, guilt by association.