Feminist ‘threatened to punch trans activists’
Veteran Labour activist faces private prosecution over comments at rally in which she is alleged to have threatened violence
A VETERAN Labour activist is facing a private prosecution after comments she made at a rally allegedly threatening violence against transgender rights activists.
Linda Bellos appeared in court yesterday after Giuliana Kendal, a transgender rights campaigner, brought a private prosecution against the former Lambeth council leader for telling a rally she was willing to “thump” trans activists.
Ms Bellos, 67, a friend of Jeremy Corbyn, was speaking at a feminist event “We Need To Talk About The GRA [Gender Recognition Act]” in York on Nov 8 last year when she made the comments.
In remarks streamed live online, she said: “Having borne two children I think I’m physiologically and, in many other senses, a female and a woman.
“But I play football and I box, and if any one of those b------- comes near me I will take off my glasses and thump them.” She added she was “quite prepared to threaten violence” because transgender rights activists were seeking to anger women.
Transgender activists accused Ms Bellos of threatening violence. Police confirmed that she was interviewed under caution over her remarks, but no charges were filed.
Ms Kendal, a transgender woman, was present at the preliminary hearing at Westminster magistrates’ court.
Rose Venice Allan, 43, is accused of sending an offensive message under the Communications Act at the same event.
Appearing in the dock Ms Bellos courted further controversy for wearing a pocket handkerchief in the colours of the Suffragette movement.
Ms Kendal made an application for the emblem to be removed – along with a woman in the public gallery who wore a T-shirt with the slogan “Woman equals adult human female”.
The slogan refers to a poster commissioned by feminist Posie Parker in Liverpool that alludes to gender being permanent.
Ms Kendal argued that the T-shirt was a highly political emblem which was “brazen in committing contempt of court”, and was a breach of the Equality Act. However, District Judge Richard Blake said: “People are free to wear what they want,” but he urged all parties to be “cautious” not to use the case as a way to further their own cause.
Amanda Jones, defending Ms Bellos and Ms Allan, said her clients have asked the Crown Prosecution Service to take over and discontinue the case.
Ms Bellos, of Bixley, Norfolk, is charged with one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words.
Ms Allen, of London, is charged with one count of sending an offensive message by a public electronic communications network. In a statement to the press the pair said: “The case has been adjourned for the CPS to consider whether to take over the case and discontinue it.
“And the issue of whether the summons should have been issued is reopened. And we have reserved the option of a judicial review.”
Ms Bellos has previously said that her remarks were in response to the assault of a radical feminist by a transgender activist at a rally in Hyde Park last September and that she was speaking about self-defence.
She is on the record as opposing the inclusion of transgender candidates on all-women shortlists.