Wes Streeting nearly apologises.

[ArabellaScott]

https://archive.md/tUg5i

Streeting says he should have spoken up sooner, and it was wrong to call women bigots.

He forgets to mention the group he was in though and claims to have had no part in 'no platforming'.

Close, Wes. Close.

I'd have pronounced both "nearly apologises" and "close" as weasel words from someone with high ambitions.

It's enough to piss off any trans rights activist. But not enough to convince feminists. Bit pointless really - you either have to go big or go home at this point, Streeting.

I don't trust a word out of that man's mouth.
There is no magical middle ground that allows both women and transwomen dignity (as described by each group), unless they can miraculously get transwomen to accept that they have no place in any women's spaces, groups, awards or lists.
I can honestly say that I don't believe that wes streeting has the wherewithal to force TRAs to accept that women's words and spaces etc are for women not men even those with special identities

I really want to believe Labour are going to backtrack on the gender woo but they're definitely not there yet. However, I thought they were just going to ignore it completely so I'm glad he's said something positive.

Yup. The only difference between now and 2019 is that they realise they can't tell us to STFU and we will still do what we're told.

Interesting that though this "never comes up on the doorstep", he feels the need to bring it up and try to pass off a non-apology. Why is that then?

I can't help thinking its all just to demonstrate labours policy of making it easier for men to become 'women' and maintain 'safe spaces' while not acknowledging the two are linked.

Anneliese Dodds is appealing to TRA by committing to modernising the GRA, Streeting is appealing to women by saying he recognises that we've been ignored.

No one in the party is speaking about the real issues - how can sex segregated spaces exist when sex cannot be established because governments are giving men female id.

Labour need pressed on how they would resolve the issue of ten 26 nurses taking the transwoman to court because they don't want to get changed in a changing room with a 'transwoman' who allegedly harasses them.

No platitudes, Streeting. What's your actual solution? Nobody knows if the chap has a GRC, let's assume he does. What then?

As he's shadow health secretary I'm expecting a detailed response from him about Cass and how it affects the NHS, the revelations about damage to young women's bodies from cross sex hormones and a range of other issues.

I'll wait...

Who said that this never comes up on the doorstep please?

I'll be ensuring as I have done in the past that this comes up on my doorstep but would like to understand where the comment originated.

“I hope there will be some goodwill coming in from both directions because I genuinely think there is a way through this really toxic conversation where trans people can live with dignity, respect and inclusion, and women can have their sex-based rights protected.''

This is still 'both sides' and 'be kind'. But it isn't a problem that can be fixed by us being kind and understanding; its a problem that can only be fixed by Govt making clear, absolute rules.

Hopefully you can view TwiX: https://x.com/steven_swinford/status/1642820660333359104?s=46

Streeting is a weaselly little opportunist (apologies to any weasels reading) who’d say anything to further his political career. He’s a useful weathervane; but he’ll swing right round if the wind changes - developing mysterious amnesia in the process.

@NoWordForFluffy thankyou that's really helpful.

So why is starmer so instant on modernising the GRA? Or is he claiming thats a huge talking point on the doorstep, but men in womens prisons and in womens sport isn't.

If he just wants to concentrate on what people say to him while canvassing, he would only need to have policies on gas bills and potholes.

It's that magical thinking again as practised by the under 5s. This is the world as Labour would like it to be where women STFU about safeguarding children, women's rights to safety & privacy, Cass & the inconvenient data that shows how much harm is being done to children & young people.

In their minds we're all on our doorsteps talking about emptying the bins and modernising the GRA 😑

When the Labour canvassers came to my door we did indeed talk about emptying the bins (it was my local councillor who'd been sorting a regular non-emptying issue for me)!

I then launched into women's sex-based rights. And she ran away!

Moral of the story: always discuss bins first, else they'll bugger off!

Channel 4 News last week had Caroline Nokes and Ben Bradshaw claiming that it never comes up on the doorstep.

https://x.com/Channel4News/status/1791512859240796317

Obviously these are two of the most TRA MPs in parliament but C4 News was not aiming for balance. Krishnan always acts like any mention of the issues can only be "culture wars".

I wish I weren't so cynical about this. I wish I could trust that Streeting represents a change of understanding and policy in the Labour Party. And that his 'apology' is not because the Labour strategists have realised that what a considerable proportion of Labour voters want to hear.

Can we trust hi, do you think? He is apparently quite powerful within the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Ugh why am I not excited by the prospect of getting the Tories out?

As long as you’re not holding your breath ….

I may be naive but I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm hoping that Labour are realising that if they make it easier for men to enter women's spaces then their entire term in government will be dogged by the sort of headlines that we've been seeing in Scotland. There will be a massive train of legal cases coming down the track such as the nurses who have to share a changing room plus detransitioners suing the NHS. At the moment they can put it all on the Tories. I think once a politician actually pays attention to the issues they realise that attacking women's rights will be a disaster. As I say I'm probably hopelessly naive. Annalise Dodds appears to have looked at the situation and decided self-id is a great idea.

I'm going on the manifesto. And that's not even legally binding. As such, Labour can't be trusted.

So much this. I am going to vote labour because I want better public services, but I'm not forgiving them for calling women bigots or for their treatment of Rosie Duffield. Nor am I forgetting that the fight to centre women in women's rights needs to accelerate.

I'm determined not to let them get away with it.

Voting for them isn't sending that message, @Citrusandginger. They'll see it as acceptance.

I think I may have to spoil my ballot "Respect my sex, if you want my X"

Oh I'm not voting for them with any enthusiasm. But I don't wanted another 5 years of the Tory wrecking ball. I'm choosing to vote labour & understand that this means I will have to keep fighting for women.

I'm very much up for that conversation with any canvassers that come knocking, just as I will be equally frank with Tory & reform candidates about why they aren't getting my vote.