Kemi Badenoch on the Tavistock GIDS

[InTheCanteen]

This is so good:

Tavistock scandal shows the dangers of civil service groupthink

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0df1a300-1022-11ed-b7aa-67f5549661eb?shareToken=a63b0046a438836d715431528446b1a3

“I insisted on meeting campaigners on both sides of the debate: not just Stonewall but, to the horror of some officials, the LGB Alliance. I met clinicians and, most importantly, I asked to meet young people who had used the Tavistock’s services.

One such young person was Keira Bell. To my surprise, I was advised strongly and repeatedly by civil servants in the department that it would be “inappropriate” to speak to her. I overruled the advice. Along with other advisers across government I met Keira and listened to what she had to say. Her testimony was harrowing and brought many on the Zoom call to tears. Keira described how, after being put on puberty blockers at the age of 16, she was given testosterone shots at 17, before her breasts were cut off at 20. Worse was the casual indifference she described from the GIDS service to her continued post-surgery wellbeing.“

In the article, it says she was Equalities Minister from February 2020 to July 2020.

Didimention - It says until July 2022, not 2020

So she was equalities minister during/after Keira went to court

Two pieces in the i newspaper yesterday. One slating K B and commenting on the hate the trans community suffer and one covering the closure of the Tavistock as though it was just to spread their wise and wonderful interventions further around the country so all could benefit. I think the latter was the most appalling lie I have ever read in what I thought was a reasonably balanced paper.

In order to be, and to be seen to be, impartial.

If Keira’s claim wasn’t known about in Feb - July 2020, then it wouldn’t provide a reason to advise against meeting her. But if it was known about, then it might be a reason. It’s the only reason I can think of, so I wondered if anyone on here happens to know the dates.

Sorry. A lack of attention to detail on my part! (In my defence, it’s Saturday night wine time.) So those dates mean a link with the timing of the court case is a plausible reason for the officials’ advice.

@DidiMention

I am not sure how meeting someone, when you are a minister in the government that runs the department opposing the person you’re meeting, would make you seem anything other than impartial.

I really want all those in politics and the civil service to adhere to the Nolan Principles. They're so easy to understand and would restore trust. Can we get all consultations benchmarked against them?
www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2

It's a superb article. Thanks very much for sharing it, Inthecanteen. Of course it's a bid for a post in the next Cabinet but at least Kemi is an intelligent woman, unlike the Jacob Rees Moggs, Steve Bakers and their ilk.

I was struck by how she singled out Joanna Cherry and Rosie Duffield by name. It felt like a sincere and public acknowledgment of the abuse they have faced.

Does anyone else think the timing of the news about the GIDS and the suggestion that people infected by contaminated blood in the 1990s be compensated immediately is no coincidence? I feel as if we are being prepared for a number of people asking for compensation for the way they were treated by GIDS. The idea that anyone could recommend puberty blockers after an assessment lasting a few hours is shocking.

@DidiMention UK, Ministerial department (not ALB).

And yes, I would agree, 'this sense of ‘moral community’ arises from a desire to be non-racist, non-sexist, and generally non-discriminatory'.

It's a great ethos, in principle, but promotes group-think imo. And leads to moral outrage when discrimination is alleged, as it offends the self-image of an organization.

Honestly, Peter Daly does explain it better than me, but he really made me think with this:

'These moral communities are overwhelmingly the locus of disputes around sex and gender. Examples include a barristers’ chambers known for its radical work against the state (claimant: Allison Bailey), Girlguiding (claimant: Katie Alcock), a Labour-run Council (claimant: Julie Bindel), the Green Party of England and Wales (three separate claimants, with potentially more to follow), and so on. In those organisations facing allegations of gender critical discrimination, there is an over-representation of organisations in the arts, academia and the third sector. In none of the gender critical cases of which I am aware is there a hardnosed, capitalist, profit-driven, corporate defendant. I am aware of one case of a dispute between gender critical and gender theory employees in such an organisation, a FTSE-listed PLC. It was resolved quickly, effectively and without litigation.'

@LK1972

yes, I agree, that Peter Daly article is really interesting - a lot to think about. And for the CS it’s a reminder that the desire to be kind needs to be balanced with critical thinking / analysis.

@DidiMention Absolutely!

I like kemi a lot. She knows what she is talking about. Not afraid

Peter daly calls them moral communities. That is generous of him. I can think of other descriptors

Wow, fantastic article. Clear and incisive. Bravo Kemi.

Meanwhile Stella Creasy is tweeting this ..

...and in Scotland:

SNP accused of ignoring puberty blocker report

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0d30600e-0f7e-11ed-a4af-79eb4b98fc31?shareToken=812dc45e6714da24f3da960aadfdc7a8

A fantastic article, clear and direct. I sincerely hope Kemi is given a major role in Government whoever wins the leadership contest she deserves it.

An amazing article.

can we also acknowledge The Times as being unafraid to write about this issue?

and she also name checked Kathleen Stock.

I wonder how Little Owen Jones has reacted? Or Billy Bragg? Are they still calling us bigots for being concerned about the health and well being of (mainly gay and autistic) children?

I notice no one has come around yet to say that Tories don't really care about women or anyone else, and only want to fool people into voting against their interests.

Can we just start ignoring creasy? I don’t think anyone even in Labour takes her seriously. It’s all just desperate attention seeking at this point.

This is a great article from Kemi.

What is going to be done though with regard to these activists and lobbying groups that held so much sway and prevented earlier investigations into what was happening at the Tavistock? How can groups such as SW be allowed to continue to advise public and private organisations?

This is a great article from Kemi.

What is going to be done though with regard to these activists and lobbying groups that held so much sway and prevented earlier investigations into what was happening at the Tavistock? How can groups such as SW be allowed to continue to advise public and private organisations?

This is a great article from Kemi.

What is going to be done though with regard to these activists and lobbying groups that held so much sway and prevented earlier investigations into what was happening at the Tavistock? How can groups such as SW be allowed to continue to advise public and private organisations?

Sorry for all the repeat posts there.

Are mermaids going to be investigated for the role they played? They were listed as one of the Safeguarding concerns brought to Sonia Appleby's attention.

reduxx.info/mermaids-must-fall-next-is-uk-trans-charity-mermaids-to-blame-for-tavistock/