Question Time right now!

[Seeingadistance]

Prof Robert Winston has just stated very clearly that it is not possible to change sex.

In relation to freedom of speech and Kathleen Stock.

Prof. Winston look so resigned to the fact he is going to have to wade through a ton of shit for daring to state biology FACT. What does he know with his qualifications, his experience, his knowledge, his biology professorship? There are drama students out there that think a woman can be male body and think there is "a lot of science to prove this" that's who we should listen to on matters of biology.

As a member of the Labour Party, Labour MPs mealy mouthed approach to this issue pains me greatly.

I’d like all women to be able to feel safe when we state that biological sex is real and that it matters.

I lived with someone with delusions and their pain when reality challenged them and provoked the delusions was substantial but unfortunately for them and thankfully for us, we still listen rational facts about a lot of things. Just not about women 😢

Sure I head him on radio 4, a few years ago, expressing concerns about the reality of gender reassignment surgery versus the rosy picture vulnerable people have sold to them.

I will sleep better tonight for having watched that.
Lots of tweets in agreement with RW, though I'm sure there will be a backlash as well.

@justbackfrombangkok

I have always been ok with the fact that I was not clever enough to go to university. But I look at some of these students and wonder what they are studying and what the entry requirements were.

I used to teach in HE. You've been able to search out MN, sign up, create a password out of your head, and write two lucid, complex sentences. You're clever enough for university. 🙂🙃🙂

@Viviennemary

Thats good. I agree. But I still think trans men and trans women should have rights.

They do - the same rights as every other man and woman in this country!

@nocoolnamesleft

Sure I head him on radio 4, a few years ago, expressing concerns about the reality of gender reassignment surgery versus the rosy picture vulnerable people have sold to them.

This is my concern too. Vulnerable people are being sold a lie with far reaching consequences.

Winston gave a fantastic speech in the HoL on the wording of the maternity rights bill for that minster - really worth a watch if you can find it on the website/YouTube.

His speech in the House of Lords about the maternity bill (?) was powerful and moving. He is brilliant.

Honestly, I have such instinctive protective goodwill to young women but I'm afraid I hope the drama student realises that she tried to tell Sir Robert Winston (Lord?) that science can now prove that people are born in the wrong body and cringes herself inside out. Maybe the embarrassment will make her wake up to what a pile of arrant horseshit her generation have been fed.

Sorry purplepeonies - cross post about HoL

What was so interesting about this debate was that it was about freedom of speech. The Labour panelist could not articulate an argument or defence because she was self censoring and tripping over her words in case she said something that would make someone feel unsafe. In the end she just spewed verbal garbage. A perfect example of where we are going wrong.

I’m fairly sure that Keir Hardy was a disrupter who wanted to make certain people (the rich) feel unsafe. And he did make them feel unsafe.

Robert Winston is one of the cleverest people in the country. His contribution to science is huge. How anybody has the nerve to talk nonsense in the same room as him I really don't know.

@AnnieSnap

I cheered out loud! Interesting to see non-biologists arguing with his scientific statements. Also, I’m so tired of hearing ‘but trans people have to be respected/feel safe’. No one aside from genuine bigots is saying otherwise of course. We can respect people for their gender (social construct) choice and still acknowledge the science. I would respect any transwomen for choosing to live as a trans woman, but that doesn’t make them the same as me and it doesn’t make it fair for the transwoman to compete against biological women in sport.

It really should be this simple really and yet we’re faced with this mess.

@AnnieSnap

As a member of the Labour Party, Labour MPs mealy mouthed approach to this issue pains me greatly.

You do know you can leave! I did. As have many others.

I still think trans men and trans women should have rights.

I believe they have all the same rights as everyone else. If I am wrong, please tell me what rights other people have, that trans people haven't?

@WinterTrees

His speech in the House of Lords about the maternity bill (?) was powerful and moving. He is brilliant.

Honestly, I have such instinctive protective goodwill to young women but I'm afraid I hope the drama student realises that she tried to tell Sir Robert Winston (Lord?) that science can now prove that people are born in the wrong body and cringes herself inside out. Maybe the embarrassment will make her wake up to what a pile of arrant horseshit her generation have been fed.

Yes he did, he was a proper champion on that occasion too. What a day that was!!

Fiona Bruce quoted Kathleen Stock:
"Trans people are trans people, we should get over it. They deserve to be safe, to be visible throughout society without shame or stigma."

A lot of people must be wondering what is transphobic about a statement which supports trans people.

@OldCrone

Fiona Bruce quoted Kathleen Stock: "Trans people are trans people, we should get over it. They deserve to be safe, to be visible throughout society without shame or stigma."

A lot of people must be wondering what is transphobic about a statement which supports trans people.

Even when asked directly for which quote had caused offence, she couldn't find anything relevant! No wonder the poor chap in the audience (and many at home no doubt) was confused 😂

"Alison Labour" is Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South and Shadow Minister for Sports. She went to an all-girl grammar school and has birthed at least one child, so you'd think she'd know what a woman is. She's the chair of Progress, which is the major "blue Labour" faction backing Starmer. Just goes to show that Labour "moderates" are just as useless as the other factions further left within the party.

Listen (again): www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0010k4m/question-time-2021-14102021

@Viviennemary

Thats good. I agree. But I still think trans men and trans women should have rights.

Which rights do you think they should have, that they don't have already?

Nonsensical word salad as usual from Labour’s Alison McGovern.
Wish Fiona Bruce had cut her off and let the brilliant Professor Winston speak again.
Student in the audience seemed to be representative of a significant number of young people who genuinely don’t understand what critical thinking is or indeed the purpose of academic rigour.
Feeling intellectually ‘safe’ appears to be a mantra that they’ve never thought to scrutinise.
Hope Kathleen Stock feels more supported as a result of tonight’s programme.

A PP mentioned that you can leave a political party and just a few days ago I cancelled my membership to the WEP because of their stance on this issue.

I joined to stand up for Womens Rights and they no longer stand for that imo.

It seemed that Robert Winstone’s unequivocal statement as a biologist that you can’t change your sex set the stage for Anne McElvoy and the lady in the audience who works on women’s spaces to speak up too.

Alison McGovern was more interested in having a dig at BoJo. As a BAME person, I am no fan of BoJo and his comments about minorities, but I thought Alison’s attempt to score a cheap trick on BoJo/Tories at the expense of women’s rights was pathetic. She doesn’t care, does she?