Puberty Blockers Question at PMQs

[CaveMum]

First PMQs for Sir Keir Starmer.

Second question was from Nadia Whittome saying how worried she was about the puberty blocker ban and asking the PM to meet with trans families and organisations supporting them.

His response was to say the most important thing was the children and that the Cass Review was clear that there was scant evidence on their long term use. He said he would arrange for her to meet Wes Streeting to discuss.

She did not look happy and was shaking her head.

Progress? Perhaps.

The entire exchange was interesting. Whittome’s question did not appear to be warmly met, and no one booed Starmer’s excellent response. Not sure why Whittome is so invested in this but at least she stopped short of employing the suicide argument (brilliantly rebutted by Louis Appleby).

The BBC don't seem to have picked this question up on their live website thread nor in the summary, ffs

Although Starmer has been driving us all insane for the past four years with his inability to take a stand on this issue, it seems fairly obvious that he has enough sense to see that ignoring or criticising a substantial review by a leading paediatrician would make the government look foolish. Plus, of course, it gives the government cover: "We are following the science," not "We are taking a political position."

It seems clear, as with Lisa Nandy's comment about letting sporting bodies make decisions about trans participation in sport, that the government wants to position itself as entirely neutral on the issue, and that the best way to do this is to delegate, or to appear to delegate, responsibility to others. I don't know how long it's going to be able to sustain this.

It seems clear, as with Lisa Nandy's comment about letting sporting bodies make decisions about trans participation in sport, that the government wants to position itself as entirely neutral on the issue, and that the best way to do this is to delegate, or to appear to delegate, responsibility to others. I don't know how long it's going to be able to sustain this.

if that really is their plan, the Isla

Bryson-seque nature of trans ideology is not going let them hold onto that for very long

Not sure why Whittome is so invested in this...

She identifies as "queer" and espouses all the very left-wing tribal causes.

We see you BBC but the mood is changing and you can't ignore that forever.

Exactly this.

Haven't watched it yet but sounds like Starmer was almost embarrassed that this was what his party is wittering on about

Nadia also has an old NHS gender clinic with a new youth gender service in her constituency.

Interesting that she went with the narrative 'I have a constituent who has a trans child and they are worried' ...seems a bit meh....when she could have gone with 'I have clinic in my constituency who thought cass review was a terrible idea and felt so strongly about it that they didnt cooperate at all. These hardworking NHS professionals are authors of academic papers, are WPATH dignitaries, really good eggs and utterly trustworthy'.

If the evidence is there Nadia, bring it.

Could they be any more obvious? There should be a public enquiry about both their coverage and the lack of it.

it's strangely not in the live feed on the Guardian website either. Funny that.

To those asking why the BBC is not reporting on this. Not enough drag queens affected?

It's all a bit "News for Parrots", really, isn't it?

Exactly.

It needs to be patiently, objectively rebutted. Over, and over, and over again as needed. Openly and with full transparency.

However Labour are learning very fast about the nature of the lobby and its approaches and behaviours.

This is now being covered on the PM programme on Radio 4.

Oh. Not quite. They just played the clip to demonstrate that it's another divisive issue in a discussion of contentious issues for Labour MPs.

Everyone can stand down.

This.

Repeat this.

Or are the numbers of trans identifying kids in the city higher than elsewhere?

Hmm.

It's so interesting that she wants him to meet with "trans families and the organizations that support them" about puberty blockers, rather than, say, doctors or scientists.

It's expected with people like this. But I really wonder how they make sense of that in their own mind. If the safety and efficacy of a drug is debated, aren't the people you want to talk to the ones who research the outcomes and know how the drug works?

The emphasis on the "expert patient" hasn't helped. Yes, there was, and is, a problem of HCPs sometimes not listening to patients. But an overemphasis on what people want, rather than what evidence shows will actually help them, has contributed to the acceptance of medicalising people "with gender".

It's so interesting that she wants him to meet with "trans families and the organizations that support them" about puberty blockers, rather than, say, doctors or scientists.

What’s Kier’s input going to achieve over and above what a sensible conversation with your parents wouldn’t? “I know you really, really want PBs but the current medical research doesn’t show any benefit and the side effects are serious and long-lasting. The answer is still no.” I heard the PMQ exchange on Today and thought NW’s suggestion was such an inappropriate use of the PM’s time.

Come on, Kier! I had high hopes that he would finally pull it out his arse. He's been a slow burn but so far seems to mean business, just hope it continues.

Tugs on the heart strings, sweet and vulnerable kids and heart rending anecdotes got this movement into this position in the first place. It's not surprising that it's continuing to be a go to tactic.

But yes. The facts are in. It is hard to look into the face of a distressed child and say no, I won't let you have these drugs because I care about you and your future and they are not safe. It is not right to let this happen to you. But it's the only responsible and kind thing to do.

So pleased we got a Labour government under Starmer 👏

PMQs generally a bit of fresh air today

For people worried about Keir succumbing to the activists, I suggest they look at what happened to the rebels last night.

He's not messing around.

Interestingly Nadia Whittome did not have the balls to rebel over the benefit cap like many other of the left faction in Labour who lost the whip over it. That instead she decided to protest over PB while safely inside Labour is telling I think.

Note McDonnell and some others who rebelled were not on the list of those that questioned both. Zarah Sultana was the only one who did both I think.