Boris Johnson on Sky

[tabbycatstripy]

Johnson “sad” about the reaction from LGBT groups, says he’s 100% committed to a ban on gay conversion therapy, but there complexities and sensitivities about the area of gender, and he thinks there are things that need to be worked out.

Determined to tackle prejudice.

Re. trans conversion therapy, it wasn’t something he thought he would have to consider in great detail. These are novel concepts. He doesn’t think it’s reasonable for kids to be deemed Gillick competent in trans treatments. He doesn’t think males should be competing in female sports. Women should have spaces which are dedicated to women.

That’s as far as his thinking has developed, and if it puts him in conflict with others, he wants to work it out. Is sympathetic to transitioners. But these are complex issues and it takes thought to get it right.

He was also clear about sports - Sky have posted about that separately too.

news.sky.com/story/pm-says-biological-males-should-not-compete-in-female-sport-and-venues-should-have-women-only-spaces-12583536

Boris Johnson has said that "biological males should not be competing in female sporting events"

Speaking to broadcasters on a hospital visit on Wednesday, the prime minister said of his view: "It just seems to me to be sensible."

He continued: "I also happen to think that women should have spaces - whether it is in hospitals or prisons or changing rooms or wherever - which are dedicated to women."

As much as Boris could do better (often ALOT better!). He does tend to read the room much better than most. Brexit - you knew where you stood with what he was supporting. Corbyn was a disaster on that.

Labour have again messed it up on this issue with a new leader. Do they not see what people really want? Safe spaces for women should be a given.

There are only so many times that people can excuse Labour and their inability to do and say the right thing.

Its almost like they dont want to win??

This will lose them any chance of making a dent in the Tory majority especially if Boris ups his game in the run up to the next election

@Fluffymule

He was also clear about sports - Sky have posted about that separately too.

news.sky.com/story/pm-says-biological-males-should-not-compete-in-female-sport-and-venues-should-have-women-only-spaces-12583536

Boris Johnson has said that "biological males should not be competing in female sporting events"

Speaking to broadcasters on a hospital visit on Wednesday, the prime minister said of his view: "It just seems to me to be sensible."

He continued: "I also happen to think that women should have spaces - whether it is in hospitals or prisons or changing rooms or wherever - which are dedicated to women."

Good

And completely agree with pp.

And is the result of the persistent hard work and dedication of individual and groups of women often at great cost to themselves.

@Fluffymule

He was also clear about sports - Sky have posted about that separately too.

news.sky.com/story/pm-says-biological-males-should-not-compete-in-female-sport-and-venues-should-have-women-only-spaces-12583536

Boris Johnson has said that "biological males should not be competing in female sporting events"

Speaking to broadcasters on a hospital visit on Wednesday, the prime minister said of his view: "It just seems to me to be sensible."

He continued: "I also happen to think that women should have spaces - whether it is in hospitals or prisons or changing rooms or wherever - which are dedicated to women."

Gosh, if only he were the Prime Minister who could, y'know, do something about it.

Still, it's a start. I just hope he's not going to use this for personal cred points whilst doing nothing.

Johnson now has all the ammunition he could need to say Labour will not protect women, will not protect kids, and are a shower of captured fools.

Clear from Boris. I also liked his mention of kids being “Gillick competent “ and that parents should be involved. I think he understands the issues and his thinking can only go one way now. No debate is certainly over.

Malaga - well Labour seem to be saying the complete opposite! I accept they are not in government but in that case they should be even more considered. Surely people are judging what they are saying to consider whether they should vote for them!

Unless of course they dont want to win.

I doubt Boris particularly cares about these issues but is stating his views to put a clear divide between him and the ridiculous Labour politicians. Labour can't say they weren't warned this would happen, what a let down they are.

Excellent. And because he used ‘biological males’ it was very clear to everyone which I think ‘transwoman’ isn’t. So the BBC, reporting it, resorted to saying ‘he also said he did not believe biological males should compete in women’s sports, a view he acknowledged may be controversial’.

Because so often it is spun as ‘excluding transgender people’ which of course it isn’t. They still have a competition they can compete in, that of their sex.

Someone wrote on Twitter, ‘He was coherent and honest during that clip. Very unlike him.’

Easy to forget he’s a very successful politician who has (when he can bothered to use them and is sober) excellent faculties and first-class powers of persuasion.

As the press (thinking of the BBC & ITV) have completely forgotten to mention anything about children, it's good to hear the PM speaking so clearly about the issue. Now for the Sec of State for Education to start rolling back all the trans guidance in schools telling them they can transition children in secret from their parents.

The sports situation is complete nonsense. Surely someone is going to say enough is enough. The transwomen looked like men, they were head and shoulders taller than the women. It cannot be fair to women to compete against them.

Have a separate category for them.

That was a good performance from Boris. He says he hasn't thought too much (to paraphrase) but he has. He definitely has.

Good.

Anyone trying to whip up some kind of anger about that eminently reasonable and moderate statement is only going to show themselves up as an intolerant extremist.

I always wonder why Labour dont pay some true blue voter to attend a meeting to tell them what they need to do to get a majority as big as the Tories. Its almost like the want to stab themselves in the back and spoil it for themselves.

All that was needed was someone important (i.e Boris) to state the bleeding obvious and everyone is nodding in agreement. Would like to see what Boris et al do with this now to make Labour look even more daft than they do now. Its not just Starmer who is spouting this rubbish, they all seem to be saying it, Lammy, even Cooper who was my favourite of the politicans. Its like they have their sensible and reasonable gene removed.

@mynameisnotkate

I’m torn between being grateful that the PM is saying this, and worried that the association with a lying, incompetent Tory will reinforce the idea that this is bad in the minds of people who are on the fence and don’t think much. I wish there was a broader range of political figures saying stuff like this. To some extent it adds fuel to the ‘only right wing bigots think this’ nonsense.

I think that people who think that way are already locked into a dead end ideological bubble. Which is a big part of the problem that has brought us to this state of affairs in the first place.

It's difficult to know what might get through to that group of people, they are so set on "my side good, that side bad".

Ideological bubble... now which one of our main political parties would this be referencing I wonder....

Rayner's reaction is interesting. She's specifically objecting to the part where Johnson says "these are novel concepts" and that he didn't think he'd have to consider it in such great detail.

I think that part was rather clever and he had his finger firmly on the pulse of the country with it. Most people do find the discussion bewildering and exhausting and are very confused about why the issue is in their faces so much. It doesn't say much for Rayner's political savvy if she thinks that "these are new concepts" disqualifies Johnson from speaking on the issue.

If voting Boris can stop children being given damaging medical treatment. So be it.
This issue is absolutely massive for women but most of us will not even acknowledge that trans rights can affect women's rights and safety.
If Boris is brave enough to address this which is more than anyone else has i will back him.
In reality taxes ect will be equally horrific whichever party wins. But this could be something the Tories start to address.
I didn't expect to ever say anything positive about Boris but in this case, yep well done.

@sashagabadon

Clear from Boris. I also liked his mention of kids being “Gillick competent “ and that parents should be involved. I think he understands the issues and his thinking can only go one way now. No debate is certainly over.

Yes, I thought this notable too.

I think the Government will keep framing this trans conversion therapy issue around children and careful safeguards because it's so obviously reasonable.

People who argue aggressively against children being given time, space and meaningful support look increasingly dishonest.

So good. He was so clear and balanced and pointed out it was new and evolving and would not be bounced into trying to score woke points though the questions were leading. I also like the clear separation he made between the LGB and the T.

The TRA line seems to be that he is against abortion and contraception because he doesn’t think children can be regarded as Gillick competent when it comes to trans healthcare.

Like Johnson would ever be against contraception. Probably the only thing that’s kept him from bankruptcy.

Sadly I think that the Labour Party are content to be in opposition indefinitely. They can then take the moral high ground on everything without producing any workable policies.
I canvassed for them for years with my Dad but this neglect of women is the final straw and for the first time I am considering voting Tory. Sorry Dad.

Like Johnson would ever be against contraception. Probably the only thing that’s kept him from bankruptcy.

😁

Wow I have to say, genuinely, he made so much sense and it was great to see him saying those things. Sadly a lot of his rubbish views and previous actions on other matters will be used as a way to tear it apart but wheeeeew was good to hear. Take note labour, sort yourselves out ffs.