Starmer backs banning tw from women's sport 🤔

[IcakethereforeIam]

He seems fairly unequivocal

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2024/03/11/keir-starmer-backs-ban-on-transgender-female-competition/

https://archive.ph/4lLbf jump the paywall, don't get stuck halfway

There's a rehash of a few things at the end. That some sports have already done this except football and cricket. Apparently they are being called to parliament to explain themselves!

OK this is encouraging. If he sticks with it.

Must be an election on the way! What about the poor 1% of bepenised ladies who will be affected by this?

Well they know if they bring in self id the whole thing becomes meaningless really. Any man can claim to be a woman and it's all completely pointless.

The Labour leader said he was “supportive” of moves to protect the female category of sporting competitions and that “common sense has to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of sport”.

If I were in a room with him, I'd ask him to elaborate and give me the next 10 words.

Those 10 need to include his definition of a woman.

"Supportive" is inadequate for me.

ETA: so is the focus on elite sport. We need the grassroots or there won't be elite.

common sense has to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of sport

In competitive sport - but what about non-elite sport? Children's sport?

When does common sense have to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of women's safety, dignity and equity of opportunity?

When does common sense have to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of factual recording of crimes, and of other data that informs future planning?

When does common sense have to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of freedom of speech and other democratic rights?

When does common sense have to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of safeguarding and children's physical and emotional health?

The only thing Starmer is unequivocal about is that he will go all ways around the houses to get away with not saying something.

I'm sure that someone recently wrote that Starmer spends all week saying nothing and then does U-turn the next week.

what he seems to be saying is that he wouldn't try to intervene on behalf of TW/wouldn't try to mandate the inclusion of TW in female sport in cases where a body had already ruled against it.

but I also strongly read his comment as saying that he wouldn't be doing anything to proactively push refusenik sporting bodies to sort themselves out.

in other words a strong, resounding, 'not me, guv.'

Just more word salad from him. Doesn't mean a thing, he can't be trusted an inch.

It's just more waffle from him - it's not unequivocal. I don't trust that he won't u turn again next week/tomorrow. He's a complete weasel.

More flip flops than Blackpool Beach during a summer heat wave that bloke.

ETA:

Remember Paul Whitehouse in that sketch show where he was the bloke in the pub trying to agree with everyone?

That's Keir that is...

Hmm. What he actually said doesn't seem quite as unequivocal as the Telegraph headline suggests. But keep going, Sir Keir, I'm listening,

I don't trust him on this, I wish he would state it much more clearly, female sport should be for females only and we would make sure that was clear in the law.

He need to come out and say if he has a trans child as it’s an obvious conflict of interest if he does; he shouldn’t involve himself in anything trans-related if he becomes PM.

I think the important thing is that the sports governing bodies take a lead on this. And they are doing that, and we’re supportive of what they’re doing, particularly in elite sport.

Pathetic. Forcing females to compete against and alongside males is illegal sex discrimination, and the law needs to say so. He's a lawyer. He knows.

Joining the cynical bench - it's tediously drawn out all this isn't it?
BUT - if he's saying that “common sense has to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of sport”, he's going to have to explain why the same doesn't apply to grassroots sport (where all our elite sportswomen come from) female changing rooms & showers, prison cells, hospital wards, toilets in schools and all the rest.

Can't wait to hear him explain the difference 🙄

Well, elite sport is what makes the headlines, isn't? Foregrounding that is an easy win for Starmer. Never mind about your daughter's after-school activities.

Some responses to the change.

Martina Navratilova
Sir Keir Starmer backs ban on transgender athletes in female competition- well about time…

Sharron Davies MBE@sharrond62
Well I never..

LabourWomen’sDeclaration  @LabWomenDec
“The important thing is that sports governing bodies take a lead. They are doing that & we’re supportive... particularly in elite sport.. common sense has to prevail in terms of safety & integrity of sport.”
YES @Keir_Starmer - but NOT JUST in elite sport!

It is a step forward and don't forget this puts pressure on Lib Dems, SNP and others who either back the ending of women's sports or refuse to make a statement on the matter. With an election coming up voters should know which parties back sports for women clearly and unambiguously.

It also puts pressure on the anti women's sports faction within Labour such as Dawn Bowen, the Minister of Sport for Wales who backed Emily Bridges.

Obviously we need more details and maybe the answer to the question why did it take so long.

Sorry, but this man will say anything to get elected!

tbh, I wonder if the TwiXers were responding to the headline and not the content of the article which certainly doesn't mirror it.

Couldn't lie straight in bed.

Don't believe a word of it. Starmer twists with the wind. He thought that saying "99% of women don't have penises" was somehow a thing worth saying.

I think the important thing is that the sports governing bodies take a lead on this. And they are doing that, and we’re supportive of what they’re doing, particularly in elite sport.

Bloody hell, are any of these men ever capable growing an actual spine? Do they imagine that people can't see them piggybacking on the back of someone else's spine?

I don't give a flying fuck what Starmer is 'supportive' of or not, if he doesn't realise that if he ends up running in the country he's the bloody person in charge.

His decisions! Own it maate.

'Oh, every federation in the country has decided to let men compete as women. I'm not supportive of that, but whatevah'.

Plus vacillation and prevarication will win him nothing. Even 'supporting' no transwomen in women's sports is admitting that transwomen are absolutely not women.

He's saying that 100% of women in sport don't have a penis.

What you basing that on then, Starmer?? 😁

Another of the yeah but it's Starmer, he'll change his mind again next week.

I've lost all belief I him. I no longer believe anything Starmer says he agrees with or is going to do.

He just talks weasely shite

Hmmm... I think both pics apply.

Bloody hell, are any of these men ever capable growing an actual spine?

Spines are like penises: you're either born with one, or you're not.