Starmer: Almost no-one is talking about trans issues

[SidewaysOtter]

To quote from the rolling news section of this morning's Times:

"Almost no Britons are “talking about trans issues,” Sir Keir Starmer has said as he questioned why such issues are a focus of political debate.

The Labour leader sought to win over gender critical campaigners and MPs at the weekend, telling The Sunday Times there would be “no rolling back” of women’s rights if the party formed a government.

Speaking to LBC this morning he repeated his position that “for the vast majority — let’s say 99.9 per cent — biology matters” in defining a woman. He said that Labour was trying to agree a “common sense, respectable and tolerant position”, but that it was “not prepared to ignore” the small number of people who identify as a different gender to the one they were born in.

He insisted it was a marginal issue for many voters, however. “As we go around the country campaigning, I talk to thousands and thousands and thousands of people. They want to talk to me about the cost of living crisis, about the fact they can’t pay their bills, they want to know what they’re going to do about their council tax,” he said.

“Almost nobody is talking about trans issues. I do sometimes just wonder why on earth we spend so much of our time discussing something which isn’t a feature of the dinner table or the kitchen table or the café table or the bar.”

Funny, because I think there's quite a lot of people talking about "trans issues". Whether it's the treatment of Posie Parker and the 72-year-old woman who were violently assaulted last weekend, male-bodied people in women's sports/changing rooms/hospital wards/prisons, the medicalisation/mutilation of young adults, or the vilification of those who speak The Terrible Heresy that you cannot change your biological sex. And yes, we're talking about it at the dinner table, the café bar or wherever.

"No rolling back of women's rights" doesn't mean shit if you count men as women, Mr Starmer. And you can wang on about "respect and tolerance" all you like but we know what you really mean by that is wanting us to be quiet and stop being awkward. That isn't going to happen.

Where I live, I basically have the option of voting Labour or Tory. No other party has a hope of getting in.

I am 100% certain that the Tories are no friends of women and all of the women I know have been worse off under them.

My friend escaping domestic violence got no support in the courts to keep her children safe because of all their cuts to legal aid and them getting rid of the specialist courts.

My friend who's child is suicidal was told it was a year plus to see a counsellor because of their cuts to children's mental health services.

We're all worse off because of their cost of living crisis.

My friendship group is all GC, but they won't vote for these Tories because of the pain and suffering they have caused and knowing how much worse everything would be after another 7 years of them.

We're also very aware that all the problems re women's spaces/sports etc have happened under the Tories and if they really wanted to do anything about it, they could have by now. They are just lying to try and get votes.

The only way to get them out here is voting Labour so that's the only choice.

I think that this is reflective of how many feel at the moment.

I think there are ways of still getting your voice heard whilst intending to vote Labour.

If there are areas of concern you have on the Labour position on women's rights now is a really good time to email and let them know that. If up and down the country Labour MPs or prospective candidates receive emails of this nature then Labour can't, honestly, say it isn't something women talk about or worry about. They will also have a view that they won't have the support of the electorate if they sit back and continue to allow males into women's single sex spaces etc.

It may be that if they reply they won't give you the answers/ reassurances you want and obviously this doesn't have to affect your vote on the whole. But not telling them your views won't achieve anything either.

I fear that because of the fear of another Tory government they will get away with this and it irks me (to put it mildly) that women's rights should be the price to pay.

The fight is just getting into a new gear. Starmer can say what he likes - try to pretend there is no conflict to keep genderists in line. Meanwhile women have their own ideas and are acting on them. Those pesky Scottish Women are demanding a vote on whether women exist or not in Scottish Labour Conference this weekend.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5009096-scottish-labour-conference-this-weekend-pro-woman-motions-up-for-vote

Starmer can't stop people talking about the reality of human biology inside the party or outside.

Whether you vote Labour or any other party is a personal thing. The key thing is to keep fighting so the reality of biology is admitted in every party and as part of the General Election. We need to push this debate UP the agenda.

What is your is expectation with Labour?

Obviously you feel they will fix things financially but on GC side of it, since you say you are GC, do you think they’ll be better on sex based rights?

We’ve made small gains and it takes time but what if it slides backwards?

I think realistically, they'll probably be the same as the Tories on that issue.

I'm optimistic that they'll be better on the other issues I care about so that gets them my vote.