Sophie Walker stands down as leader of WEP

[NotANotMan]

I have heard from WEP insiders that Sophie is fully gender critical so this can't be a good move for feminism and the party

its, not it's, grrrr.

How sad. If the worst case scenario, as suggested above, happens I'm sure that would help #peaktrans even more people. Trying to be positive for you all here.

She's got time to set up a GC party before the next election just, if she's quick

And to think this all could have been avoided, had they called themselves the menstruators' party from the start...

I joined the party after it seemed like they were going to be more GC but if that is going down the tubes, then I will be cancelling my membership.

Mner. I joined too. Presumably there will be a leadership election, so don't leave yet. There might be an opportunity to influence what direction the party goes in. But I think the fact Sophie has decided the she is no longer a good fit for this party suggests it is unlikely to go in a more GC, or reality based direction.

I like Sophie. I felt for her even though she obviously made mistakes. I hope she continues to be involved in feminist organising.

Sorry she is going although I never felt the need for a women only political party particularly when it wasn't on the side of women in the big feminist debate of this decade. It sounds as though they have got firmly embroiled in identity politics with her "I'm not oppressed enough to be leading this party" stance.

Anyone want to bet a tenner that the next leader will be trans?

Nope. I have no desire to lose £10.

Manderleyagain my decision to join was in hope that WEP would change and that I could be part of that change in any policy votes etc. I won't leave yet as there is still some level of hope but if they go back to TWAW etc, then I cannot fund that. I left the Greens over it as well!

Well I sincerely hope that the next leader is a deep-voiced 6'4" hairy-arsed transwoman. Every little helps as they say.

I'm sticking with the party through the leadership election but I will only vote for/stay if that leader is GC. As much as I respect trans people and welcome them into the party I want a women's equality party that centres women, and that acknowledges that biology, not feelings, are at the root of women's oppression.

I'm not holding out hope

I'm fascinated at what the future holds for Sophie. I think she's phenomenal. Clever and brave and focused and principled. I believe she's GC and that's why she had to leave, so it will be interesting if she breaks cover once she's clear of WEP.

I bet she’ll have some stories to tell if they don’t make her sign a non disclosure. Don’t she’d come back for another webchat?

Looking at their website there are several women on their committees (although the same women keep appearing on all the lists). Are all the other women happy to accept TWAW? That seems strange. I don't know any women over 40 who think gender dysphoric males can speak for or understand female experiences. If it's not about being female but more about being feminine then the party's reason for existence starts to look trivial.

Excuse the nonsense:
Don’t suppose she’d come back for another webchat?

i'd certainly be interested to hear the nitty gritty of how WEP got to the place where they ejected Heather Brunskill Evans for holding perfectly reasonable mainstream views and talking about transgender children in a caring, compassionate way.

but i suspect Sophie wouldn't want to talk about that

I've got a long fucking memory Sophie

I've got a long fucking memory Sophie

Me too but I think she's come quite a long way.

this reminds me of the far left. They always seem to tear themselves apart before they ever get anywhere too.

Which of the mainstream parties believe TWAW? And which don’t? Only mainstream parties I know of are Green, Lib, Lab, Con, UKIP, DUP, SNP and Plaid but I don’t know where they all stand. Is it not more effective to argue for something within a mainstream party than as part of a fringe single issue party? Or join an organisation that lobbies the big parties? I just can’t see how it’s not way more effective to do this.

Which of the mainstream parties believe TWAW? And which don’t? Only mainstream parties I know of are Green, Lib, Lab, Con, UKIP, DUP, SNP and Plaid but I don’t know where they all stand

Well the Greens had to change the wording on their papers addressing their views on abortion, because "men can give birth too" and famously believe referring to women as "non-men" is a good idea because it's inclusive.

The Lib Dems warmly welcome Sarah Green "Suck my famaldehyde pickled balls' and Aimee furry/nappy wearing/bullier of child rape victim Chanellor as prominent figureheads.

The Labour Party allow males onto women only shortlists, and gain jobs reserved for women only, despite the fact their decision to FP this breaks party policy and possibly the law.

The Conservative party launched the consultation to allow for self-ID with the assumption it was a done deal, without consulting any women before hand.

SNP are so woke they have sleep deprivation, and are TWAW through and through.

Probably UKIP and the BNP are the only gender critical party.

Isn't it great.

Thanks. You mean UKIP and the DUP? The BNP aren’t a mainstream party. They’re a fringe party. Tiny parties are ten a penny and achieve pretty much nothing. Didn’t realise that all the left wing parties were so onboard with TWAW though... I didn’t think the tories would be onboard at all TBH.

The next leader won't be a trans woman. I suspect it might be another Ruth Hunt situation though, with trans activist entryists working behind the scenes as we speak, to make sure they get someone in place who will prioritise them and theit interests above all else, just as has happened in other organisations.

She reminds me of an abused woman when they leave an extremely emotionally abusive relationship - has seen the light i.e. recognised the abuse and that she will never succeed if she stays where she is, is exhausted, trying to keep her head up and knowing she has to move on.

I don't think the SNP are TWAW through and through. They have the policy they do mostly through lobbying. There are some GC voices starting to appear.

UKIP and BNP aren't gender critical, they are sexist. There's a difference.

Id seriously question snp being twaw to the core. Watch the Scottish consensus debate and you might be pleasantly surprised. The only woke bs seemed to eminiate from the green msp surprise surprise

“Poor Sophie - that statement sounds she feels really battered by the whole experience. After a weak start I have come to really admire her over the last couple of years.”

You did? May I ask why? For her performance as leader or for other reasons? I searched for her on YouTube. Here was her performance on national television. The video has had almost a million views and however many saw it on TV. I honestly can’t think of a worse advert for the WEP than putting up a performance like that on national television. Read the comments, there are 1,000’s of them, read how good a job she did of persuading people towards her party’s point of view. Isn’t that what a party leader’s job is first and foremost? To sell their party’s ideas to the general public? I don’t see how anyone could do a worse job of that than going on national television and appearing to hold two contradictory ideas at the same time (freedom and equality of outcome) which is how I think she came across. I think the WEP will struggle to find a more ineffectual leader than that. If she was an effective leader the comments would suggest she was persuading people to become sympathetic towards her party’s goals, but the comments suggest people are hardening against them.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy4vq8RdPGU