The Times - Mordaunt faces backlash from MPs re Trans reform

[RogerAllamsFangirl]

Apologies if this link doesn't work

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/9800cc34-cf02-11e8-bde6-fae32479843d]

Sounds really encouraging. Tim Shipman and Andrew Gilligan.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/9800cc34-cf02-11e8-bde6-fae32479843d

Good.

I am intrigued. Why do they think Mordaunt is going to the be the next leader? I have read that somewhere else too.

Great article! share token link

I very much hope that it is how it pans out!

Mordaunt is spending the weekend waiting for May to change her mind over the latest Brexit position, with the threat that she'll quit if May doesn't.

Also contemplating her position over Brexit is Esther McVey, against the backdrop of a looming backlash over Universal Credit.

The third MP thinking about quitting over Brexit is said to be the incredibly talented and politically skilled Andrea Leadsom.

It has to be said, that the trans issue and the universal credit issues are a problem for May and getting rid of Mordaunt and McVey gives an opportunity for u-turns on both - whilst also exposing May politically in other ways.

But yes.

Interesting dynamic emerging over two very important and looming issues which perhaps are every bit as crucial for the next generation as Brexit.

Worth watching then.

“She said it was the defining moral and cultural issue of our times”
Well she’s an idiot.

borntobequiet well she's right, but just not in the way she thinks

the comments are extremely positive - GB's one particularly.
I am so hopeful that the tide is turning I just hope it is enough before the consultation closes.
I have finally, finally raised the issue at work, subtly at first but then a bit more vocally. At least two women told me on Friday that they now knew what they were doing at the weekend.
The irony is that no-one was offended or 'woke'. They just simply didn't believe me that this could be happening. They just didn't believe me. It is astonishing that this is completely under the radar of the general public.

Very encouraging. The bit that jumped out at me was half of MPs have been contacted about the issue. We all must write to our MPs. They might ignore us or disagree with us but at least let them know that you are concerned.

Maybe...it’s about as morally and culturally important as your toddler throwing a temper tantrum when you’re taking your terminally ill granny to the opera for possibly the last time.

Needsmorespace

I agree. People just don’t believe it’s happening. The comments are great and lots of men commenting. Sport, guides, changing rooms- it’s all there in the comments.

"The poll — one of a regular survey of MPs on topical issues by ComRes — found that only 9% of Tories back self-declaration without a doctor, with 69% opposed".

Seems quite clear cut.

Penny saw an opportunity to cast herself as the heroine of the hour without bothering to do simple research on the issue. She saw it as a virtue signalling no-brainer that would lead her into Number 10. The transgender lobby did all the hard work as she saw it and all she had to do was to ride in, rubber stamp it and then take all the credit.

And now that politicians and ordinary people are rightly pointing out the reality and the dangers, she will now move to save her career.

Problem is that, having indulged the TRAs completely thus far, they will now turn on her for deserting them. Watch your back, Penny.

Can't say I feel a whole lot of sympathy.

No sympathy here, will be seeing that article to a few friends.

I'm amazed that 9% back self-declaration without a doctor.

I'm also amazed that the comments in The Times on this issue haven't been left pending for hours, like usual!

“She said it was the defining moral and cultural issue of our times”

I think Penny was right about that.

Just not in the way Penny thinks it is.

James Kirkup was right about what MPs thought and how worried there were about disagreeing with the proposal. It now seems as though there are safety in numbers plus the public is speaking out very clearly.

It will be awful after this if they are still cowed into not speaking out.

Wow! So the tide really is turning.

Please let this survey give the MPs the courage to speak up, knowing most of their colleagues agree with them.

I am intrigued. Why do they think Mordaunt is going to the be the next leader?

They don’t necessarily, they just think that she’d like to be - and is considering running in any leadership election.

She won’t make PM without a clear reassurance she can tell the difference between males and females, and a strong reassurance that the law and society need to be able to do so too.

Stats from the article (anyone know where the poll itself can be found, it’s not on the ComRes website)?

• 9% of Tories back self-declaration without a doctor
• 69% (of Tories) opposed
• 54% of Tories oppose transgender women getting all the same legal rights as those born female.
• Eight out of 10 say they are worried by the number of children wanting to change their gender
• 56% are opposed to puberty-blocking drugs being administered. - 63% of Tories fearful of speaking out after examples of campaigners branding those who question the plans “transphobic”
• 67% of MPs of all stripes are fearful of the effect the planned changes will have on women’s changing rooms and refuges.
• Half (of all MPs) have been contacted by members of the public concerned at the proposals.

Would be interesting to see the whole poll, obviously this article is focusing on Tory party politics. What do other MPs think? Those are some strong numbers though nevertheless.

It does stand out that (from our point of view) only half of MPs have been contacted by constituents. That’s motivation for me at least to contact my own MP, I’d been putting it off and figured she’d probably already been contacted and it was fairly pointless (Labour). But if half of MPs haven’t been bugged about this yet, I’ll get on it!

That's a very heartening article. Agree completely CallingDannyBoy. However, given that MPs are paid to represent the interests of the electorate it is utterly disgraceful that they've chosen to keep quiet about their concerns for so long. If you don't have the courage of your convictions you are not up to the job of representation at this level.

Politicians are starting to realise there is more at stake than simply trans rights / womens rights.

It goes WAYYYYYYYY beyond that and it goes right to the heart of democracy and liberal enlightenment (law/order and research) over authoritarian tendancy and a forced set of beliefs at any cost.

'Being nice' sometimes is lazy and harmful in the long run, and in terms of the bigger picture. Doing hard stuff can protect EVERYONE in some way.

What is at stake is more than most people realise.