Tories woo MP at centre of Labour row on trans rights

A FEMALE Labour MP who has clashed with party supporters over trans rights has been invited to join the Conservative Party, it was reported last night.

Rosie Duffield, whose Canterbury constituency is a key marginal seat, is said to have been invited to cross the floor in recent weeks via informal channels.

The claims come days after it was rumoured that three Labour MPS were considering defecting to the Tories amid mounting frustration at Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Ms Duffield has faced criticism from Labour supporters and some MPS over her stance on transgender issues, and her belief that it might not be appropriate for trans people to have access to some single-sex spaces such as domestic violence refuges.

She has faced calls from Labour’s LGBT+ group to have the whip removed and last month pulled out of attending the party’s annual conference in Brighton after receiving online threats.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has appeared to publicly challenge Ms Duffield’s argument that

‘It’s really nice to get support from all colleagues in Parliament ... but I’m not about to jump ship’

“only women have a cervix”, stating: “It is something that shouldn’t be said. It is not right.”

According to The Times, a Tory source confirmed that Ms Duffield had been offered support privately and told the party is supportive of her stance.

She has insisted that she has no intention of defecting, telling the newspaper: “At times when abuse is really rife on social media we do support each other, and it’s really nice to get support from all colleagues in Parliament.

“But I’m not about to jump ship. I’m Labour through and through.”

Asked for comment last night, Government sources denied Ms Duffield had been approached by anyone in the Tory Whips’ Office. However, one Tory MP suggested the offer may have been made via an intermediary, such as a backbencher, giving the party deniability should Ms Duffield reject the offer.