Miriam Cates : article in the Critic 9th sept - child safeguarding

[Leafstamp]

” When people are compelled by those in authority to repeat untruths or remain silent when lies are spoken, they lose their sense of self-worth and ability to resist coercion; it is unthinkable that this should be happening to children in a democracy.”

https://thecritic.co.uk/a-failure-of-safeguarding/

I like what she says about the government needing to just get on with issuing the new guidance. Get it out in the open.

The quote in the op is absolutely right

Can't argue with any of that. The contempt that (presumably) tory Telegraph readers have for the government & Sunak as they wibble about all of this is immense.
Like the majority of women, they can't believe that children's mental wellbeing & physical safety have been sacrificed on the altar of trans ideology.

She's right. Sadly, many more children will be harmed before people like her, saying the obvious, are actively listened to.

Let me get this right. A Conservative MP. The one most invested in child rights. Pleading with a Conservative govt. Her govt. Now in power for 13 years, 14 ahead of GE.

If Cates, other than Badenoch, the one most likely to know what's going on, is pleading ignorance, and the desperate need to get on with it, that tells us a few things.

One, that we're in a real pickle, the preeminent child safety proponent in the party is as much in the dark as us.

Two, it not having happened means...Sunak not engaged, it's not in his pledges, it's somewhat not a priority.

Three, it not having happened means...the TRA lobby in the party may not be as strong as Millar/May/Mordaunt pro Self ID wing from 2017/18, but it's still able to scupper progress here, and main culprit is Keegan, Education Secretary.

We should be very concerned indeed.

I agree, and like she says it’s not just the gender confused or gender distressed children who are being subjected to potentially quite serious harm (psychological interventions with no evidence of them being helpful).

It’s also (in greater number) those around them that are having an unscientific and harmful to women and same sex attracted people belief thrusted upon them.

I also think Cates has been forced to go public with this Critic article, she's losing the argument with Badenoch against Keegan/Millar.

Millar a few days ago hosted a genderwoo event in her capacities as a Tory MP.

If Cates has had to go public, this bodes terribly for the right decisions not being made.

I hear you @RealityFan but I’m not sure she’s gone public here with anything that’s too far away from what she’s been saying publicly for a while?

But yes, there’s clearly a split within the Tory MPs.

Lets hope common sense prevails.

I think her going "public" is hugely significant.

If she was confident her view was prevailing, she would maintain party unity by saying nothing, or happily revealing upcoming concrete plans.

She's saying the Telegraph article bodes negatively and she's in the dark.

The Tory most invested in this area, in the dark? And now asking publically for clarification?

Only says one thing to me.

This may be for me the ultimate mindfuck of this entire movement, that the Conservative Party is either so captured, so split, or so ideologically and morally bankrupt that it can't sort this policy, is so beyond any explicable scenario, that I'm left speechless.

I may be being too doomy here. But I see Keegan's do nothing "policy" prevailing with Sunak.

The Tories routed.

New leader of the opposition Gillian Keegan.

And pretty much a loose convergence of policy in this area between her and Starmer.

I wish I felt differently, and my predictions are normally worth toffee. But I feel this.

GFA, GRA, EA, Stonewallification of civic society and government depts/civil service.

And a greater and greater convergence on gender across the LibLabCon UniParty.

Gillian Keegan's position after the big autumn reshuffle will be most telling.

Keegan as new opposition leader?! Come off it. She's almost totally fucked the government with her handling of RAAC. It's very clear she didn't read or understand her brief - right down to the meaning and significance of "responsible authority". If other departments follow DfE, there'll be scarcely any public buildings open.

Like I said. Fucked it.

With all this stuff it’s worth considering international picture, with captured countries and if they’ll ever get out of it again

At least we have a fair chunk of the media, half I’d say

And dare I mention it but US elections could be a factor. Depending on who wins

Isn't everyone to blame for RAAC? Right back to Blair era? Is she gonna carry the can?

Great, she can fuck off right back to obscurity, she didn't prioritise this and she's certainly dragging her heels on trans guidance.

But at very least, if she stays after the reshuffle, that's all the evidence we need.

@RealityFan

sorry to push but can you quote where she says she is in the dark?

Also, going public with what exactly? That it’s still all up in the air?

This big reshuffle is it definitely happening? Are there any links?

Or was the mini one it

Yes RAAC seems to have been known about since it was put in (50s) and since 94. But her handling of it is disastrous.

If anything, it means it's a good time for Cates and co to strike.

The only issue with the quote in the OP is that it shouldn't be happening to adults in a democracy either.

Her article is basically a long statement saying there is no policy, she has no idea where it's all going, and that it's critical to sort it, the way she and Badenoch want.

I can't think of many times where the MP most invested in a policy area says publically she has no idea, is worried, and that things must happen.

Sure, Rosie Duffield regularly exclaims, but she's isolated in the party.

Cates' whole raison d'etre in the party is this area. Surely she'd know more? It seems not.

I see this as the start of a Tory civil war. When they lose big in 2024, the Leave and Remain wings will pile in, the recriminations against Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak will be not for family audiences, and a battle for the soul of the party re immigration, small boats, tax, Brexit policy, and critically, cultural issues, family policy, indigenous birth rates, size of welfare state, and...trans policy/safeguarding in schools.

I've noticed in the Times & the Telegraph (along with the Mail) parents horrified at what's going on in schools and an almost unanimous contempt for the government for failing to take a stand on the safeguarding of children. These are their voters - the ones who put this useless shower in power.
I appreciate it may not be representative but having followed press coverage for many years on this, there's a sea change in the last 6 months / year. Partly because the press are finally covering this fully (with the exception of the Guardian / BBC).

Now people seem fully versed in the safeguarding implications that Cates highlights and they're fully on board with her views. Tbh, whether Keegan will make a bid for PM is irrelevant - ensuring that everybody understands that this harms all children in schools is the key issue.

So if pp claims that both parties will go gender

What then of the public and the increasing annoyance with it all?

Unless it’s all hushed up that won’t go away

And votes flow from that annoyance

The Tory party and night of the long knives. They absolutely assassinate anyone getting in the way.

Maggie? Thanks for transforming the country, but off you go.
Kinnock? You only lost two GEs, have another go at losing a third.

Johnson? You broke the Brexit deadlock, got the Red Wall and 85 seat majority, but those parties just mean you must go.
Corbyn? The country hates extremism and anti Semitism, have two goes at a GE.

Truss? In and out in Lettuce Time.

Now the Tories really are between a rock and a hard place.

But if they want to start clawing back credibility, sort out trans guidance in schools. First, that means Keegan out.

Of course, like all loyal Tories, that will be the clock starting to her bid to head the party.

She does all the fucking work, while others sit on their arses. As she so infamously said to ITV News.

That’s pretty much my take aswell @MrsOvertonsWindow

Lots of people have done a good job of getting the profile raised on this, even Keegan has said she is concerned about what’s going on in RSHE and her statement when the guidance didn’t appear urged caution regarding social transition.

Maybe I’m being optimistic but I feel like we’re nearly there and Cates’ article was a ‘get on with it’ message.

Thats not to say I think the guidance will be everything our side wants but we need to see the guidance and then thrash the rest out.

Publish the bloody guidance Gillian!

Because as she told us on ITV, she gets no kudos for getting results (lol) while others sit on their fat behinds.

Ironic, she's the least productive minister I've seen for a while who somehow is the most visible. She loves a photo shoot.

Haha, yes, would hate to have to deal with her.

Politicians have always been insufferable, but she really fancies herself.

Anyhow, Sunak can see the lay of the land. He needs to act.