The new Health Secretary

[WanderingWitches]

I don't follow politics very closely so I'm not too clued up on Victoria Atkins.
I've googled and saw she has commented on the trans debate in the past.
www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/27/lgbt-activists-victoria-atkins-minister-women-trans-comments

Does anyone know much about her?

Thanks for the thread. I'm cautiously optimistic, perhaps naively? I found a 2018 article from the Spectator by James Kirkup that mentions her. It's worth reading because it has the jawdropping Layla Moron quote

https://archive.ph/7SMbR archive link avoiding paywall

Atkinson said she was 'a little caution about gender transition' and they went for her.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_live_events/4160589-Webchat-with-Victoria-Atkins-MP-Home-Office-Minister-for-Safeguarding-and-Extremism-on-Thursday-11th-February-at-11am?page=3

'@GCAcademic

Hello Victoria.

My question is about the single-sex exemptions in the Equality Act. Leaving organisations such as domestic violence refuges to take their own position on this means that they are susceptible to external pressure or policy capture from (often aggressive) lobby groups whose priority is not the safety of women. Like many other women on here, I would like to see the government take a clear position on the kinds of places where vulnerable and traumatised women can have the right to safety and recovery in single-sex spaces. We have already seen women on here who are not accessing facilities because the providers cannot guarantee that they will not (e.g.) be sharing sleeping space with male strangers. Does the government have any concrete plans to strengthen the provisions for single-sex services in the Equality Act?

Hi @GCAcademic and thanks so much for your question. A lot of users have taken an interest in this area, and I understand that it is one of great interest so hope my answer helps. I know from my own visits to refuges how traumatised women can be when they’ve fled abusive relationships, often with nothing but a plastic bag of belongings and their children. It is within the law for service providers to restrict use of spaces on the basis of sex, and restrict transgender people with or without a Gender Recognition Certificate, if this is justified. I understand the difficulties in this area for both women and service providers, and that is why there is flex in the law. In my view, we need to strike a balance rather than take a “one size fits all” approach, and of course we want vulnerable women to feel safe. That is why the law allows service providers to make their own judgement according to the situation. I think it’s important we recognise the pressures that trans victims face when they are fleeing abusive relationships. This is why the new duty to provide specialist services to victims who are in safe accommodation is so important. The phrase “safe accommodation” has been used to look after victims who cannot stay in refuge specifically but who are being housed in safe accommodation nonetheless.'

@ArthurbellaScott thanks for finding that thread. Perhaps I'm a little hard of understanding but, to me, that...where's the bit when she actually answered the question?

Bugger. Thanks for sharing but definitely bugger.

Am I being dense? She seems to have answered that comprehensively to state that she is in favour of refuges etc having the autonomy to do what is right for the communities they support, that they legally can turn away trans people, and that she is in favour of third-space refuges for trans people which is the best solution all round, isn't it?
Is that not what she's said?

Being in favour of virtue and opposed to sin is all very well, but things don't happen unless a politician makes them happen. We've already seen the difficulties when organisations try to enforce single-sex spaces.

Agree. We need national guidelines so that the responsibility for upholding single sex spaces does not fall exclusively on a lesbian knitting circle in Chorley. She's dodging the issue.

You are so right but your Chorley lesbian knitters made me smile. 🤗

Fighting for the rights of those knitting lesbians in Chorley

(Other lesbian knitting circles are available, we think they should have rights too)

Esther McVey is being touted by the Sun as the Minister for Common Sense...

Sun Politics AT SunPolitics
Esther McVey appointed minister for 'common sense' by Rishi Sunak

What the fuck does this actually mean and why has she been appointed I hear you say....

Harry Cole AT MrHarryCole
EXCL: Esther McVey will attend cabinet as Rishi Sunak's "Common Sense" minister to tackle woke across Whitehall, Sun understands not the official title - she will be Minister of State at Cabinet Office

Huh wot? Nope still not getting it? Well, anti-wokery is the buzz word in Tory circles but it might not necessarily be quite all it seems either...

Temerity Drax AT DraxTemerity
"EstherMcVey... common sense tsar tasked with tackling the scourge of wokery". A new, vague and unconsidered function designed solely to make life difficult for Kemi Badenoch, leadership rival and current scourge of wokery.

The point here being there is now some competition to not do the whole politically correct shit, which might be a good thing overall on balance. However, if Esther McVey is the champion god help us all, she's got the Gift of the Gaff.

She hasn't really, though? What's her actual title? Tell me he hasn't made that office up, please?

'Esther McVey has been appointed Minister of State at Cabinet Office.'

Thank fuck. I thought they were being literal for a minute, there.

Esther McVey....is there an emoji for head in hands?
As for Victoria Atkins, weasly appeasing words.....

If I was escaping domestic abuse I would currently have to check that the available refuge was exclusively for biological women (plus kids).
How many women realize this is the current status quo?
Not ok, not good enough.