Trans row that plagues Penny’s bid for top job

THE dog Penny trans row Mordaunt’s continued leadership to she dismissed campaign criticism yesterday, of her as ‘woke’ position views was by ‘ simple insisting and her Miss was Mordaunt ‘tying itself said Westminster in knots’ straightforward’. views about been to accused the win issue support. of – changing while she has her

called It emerged for ‘complete that Miss solidarity’ Mordaunt once with the transgender that jar with community her stance – now. comments

were Asked women yesterday – as she if has trans previously women stated – she said: ‘Some people who are born male will go through a process to transition into another gender and they are issued a legal document in their new gender. They are not biological women like me, but the law recognises them in their new gender and that’s very simple and straightforward. And Westminster is

Asked if trans women can legally be tying women, not equivalent on competing this. biologically. should the itself I she issue was in in look against said: that raising, knots of And at trans respect. ‘Legally my over women we for are people record example, it.’ People but not in sport the against having Miss issue many and an Mordaunt her, impact it’s years was adding: not being ago.’ on suggested having my ‘It’s used campaign, not an impact campaign. for that on And my is that I parliamentary think people the reason recognise stop two, me but why it for getting I people am what going into it are is. trying the I to understand final stay to focused matter people we’re to on the here the public things to serve.’ and that the

asked views The trade on about the minister relationship her brother’s was also the Conservative the Mordaunt LGBTQ community. has Party claimed has James with the

Tories are ‘ complicit’ with hatred towards the community. Miss Mordaunt said: ‘I’m

a small- state Conservative.

Government shouldn’t be telling pubs and clubs what their toilet policy is. We should be concentrating on the big issues that are worrying and, in some cases, terrifying the public.’ Yesterday, it emerged that Miss Mordaunt had said she was in ‘ complete solidarity with the trans community’ when women and equalities minister in 2018.

She has faced criticism for an apparent change of stance after declaring in recent days that trans women are not biological women. She had previously insisted at the despatch box in Parliament that trans women were women. Former leader

ship contender Suella Braverman has accused the trade minister of refusing to ‘stand up for women’. She claimed Miss Mordaunt resisted using the words ‘woman’ and ‘mother’ in legislation allowing her to take maternity leave from her role as Attorney General.

It came as scientists voiced concerns that Miss Mordaunt is a keen supporter of the ‘bogus’ treatment of homeopathy in the NHS. Supporters of the so- called treatment claim it can cure disease using highly diluted substances – but its critics deride it as quackery and a belief in ‘magic water’.

Michael Marshall, of the proscience charity Good Thinking Society, said: ‘It is concerning to think that a leading contender for the highest office has such a poor appreciation of the importance of evidence when it comes to healthcare and science, and that she feels confident standing publicly against the conclusions of medical experts.’