Johnson to pitch TRA backlash as part of GE campaign?

[RedToothBrush]

Faisal Islam@faisalislam
“Number 10 has been polling “culture war” issues, such as transgender rights, to see whether they can be weaponised against Labour in northern working-class constituencies” says the Times’ ⁦*@RSylvesterTimes*⁩

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/e654014e-cd99-11e9-bfe0-b5ac4ce6ca95
Boris Johnson’s luck might be about to run out

Didn't see that coming a mile off...

Does anyone have a share token? That’s interesting if true but BJ seems so massively disrespectful of women that I can’t believe he would ever want to ally himself with women’s concerns around gender vs sex.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/boris-johnsons-luck-might-be-about-to-run-out-xwg9plxv3?shareToken=e8406311002e161ef7a80c10eb22cb09

No Boris fan but as we know people are worried about the impact of ignoring sex differences and pretending gender identity is all that matters. Ordinary people are worried about the effects on children and young people and the privacy and dignity of women. Pitched as upholding exemptions in the EA2010 it wouldn't signal a return to the 'nasty party' or have to be positioned as 'anti trans'. It would signal common sense on an issue of great importance to many people.

Is it really not possible for politicians to stand up for women's rights because it's the right thing to do? Why does it have to be about appealing to the mythical northern working class?

The issue is this culture war business.

The trans issue is associated with the metropolitan elite.

The whole things is about this idea that the metropolitan elite are out of touch with popular opinion and don't listen to the concerns of 'ordinary people'.

And on this issues that's absolutely true. And it's therefore an issue that can be exploited to discredit the Labour Party and LDs. Its an open goal.

It was an issue that Trump focused on in 2016. Its using identity politics against those who have promoted it.

I've been working for some time that the shortsightedness of the woke liberal identity crowd makes the subject rife for exploitation politically by individuals who don't give a shit about either women or trans people.

I haven't been alone on this. Lisa Muggeridge said it explicitly.

It's not so much 'the north' it's more industrial towns that are decaying.

The trouble is, that a backlash being deliberately stoked in this way during an election campaign, is liable to be really nasty (and will harm gender feminists I fear).

The culture war stuff is nasty full stop, but I fear what's coming on this one, in particular.

Rachel Johnson is gender critical. Perhaps she's had a word in his ear.

I wrote to my Conservative MP saying this was an opportunity for the Tories to differentiate themselves from the other parties; let's face it, those who will be howling in protest won't be Tory voters anyway, so the party has nothing to lose - and much to gain - by appealing to the common sense of the 'ordinary' voter.

I am watching this space with interest.

I find it very difficult to gauge, how much people in general are aware of the dangers of women’s and girl’s sex based protections being obliterated.

On the one hand, I would like to see the issue “weaponised”, if only for the sake of making more people aware of what is happening.

On the other, I do not for a moment trust Boris Johnson to handle our rights and those of trans identified people intelligently and respectfully.

I'd be astonished if Boris believes that transwomen are women.

I find it very difficult to gauge, how much people in general are aware of the dangers of women’s and girl’s sex based protections being obliterated

From my own narrow experience, it’s the older generations who are more wary of a trans debate and the younger more liberal lot who think it’s discrimination to raise concerns about women’s right etc.

I have to admit, I was “woke” until I decided to actually read into this and explore the issues.

That’s the thing - a lot of people who aren’t taking this seriously just haven’t thought about it at all.

Boris Johnson potentially lining up on this debate I trust as much as Orban banning gender studies in Hungary. It’s very scary indeed.

Thank you for the sharetoken Empress

I'd be astonished if Boris believes that transwomen are women.

Some people may be willing to suspend their disbelief to accommodate this logical fallacy, but nobody genuinely thinks it's true.

I agree Red, it's nasty stuff. I live in hope that some of those "progressives" we keep hearing about who secretly believe that women's rights should be protected will find their backbone before it's too late.

It will be a cold day in hell before I vote Tory and I hate that he is weaponsing a serious threat to women and girls for political points. Why can't politicians stand up and do the right thing purely because it's the right thing - no one believes TWAW absolutely no one.

Self-Id will never be popular with Tory voters. Anyone with half a brain can see this.

I think the trans issues are just not on the radar for the majority of voters who will not know or particularly care what is going on or (like I used to be) just feel sympathy for those poor little trans people.

Is it a big enough issue to gain mainstream attention? Maybe not right now, but once the Olympics start then more people will be questioning what is going on.

This issue, like so many others, will be totally overshadowed by Brexit.

Tory voters are primarily 40+, the same demographic that will have little truck with self-ID. He's wasting his time chasing the under 25 vote. And before you accuse him of anything else, ALL politicians chase votes.

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that he'll propose banning puberty-blockers being prescribed to children, specifically under 16s.

Ben Elton's Identity Crisis book highlights situations like this. Using social media and identity politics to turn people off certain things.

I don't want trans rights taken away I just want women's rights maintained and children to be supported so they don't make life changing decisions until they understand the full implications

I'd like a political party to support women because it's the right thing to do not to score points

It's always dangerous when an issue that is potentially serious and divisive becomes a way of dividing the vote. The problem is often not really treated seriously or with care and solutions can be extreme or just not effective. That would be a bad outcome.
I'm not sure trans rights or self-ID in particular are really divisive enough to play that role, I think too many people really have a problem with it so if there is a political debate it may end up shifting the political response. That could be a good outcome.

It is a general sign of a problem when these extreme political figures like BJ or DT are the only ones really giving voice to large sections of the population on issues.

I'm not sure trans rights or self-ID in particular are really divisive enough to play that role, I think too many people really have a problem with it so if there is a political debate it may end up shifting the political response. That could be a good outcome.

If it moves the conversation on from #NoDebate, that can only be a good thing, surely. Someone with some political clout has to make a move if there's going to be any change of policy.

The 'Tory' press: Times, Spectator, Mail have consistently published GC articles, and their editors have gone out of their way to support brave journalists.

The big surprise really was Theresa May letting Penny Maudant run with GRA reform as she did. Boris reining in aspects of transgenderism, would be a more natural Tory position. Not least, Stonewall, and their overreaching policy influence, are heartily disliked by many ordinary civil servants and others within the public sector.

kid, sex, religion...
maybe it will be quiet dangerous