Sunak keen to meet relatives of Brianna after PMQS row

RISHI SUNAK is “very keen” to meet Brianna Ghey’s family, a minister has insisted, amid a row over the Prime Minister’s transgender comment in the House of Commons.

Chris Philp, the policing minister, also defended Mr Sunak’s remarks, urging people to “listen to the initial exchange”.

Mr Sunak accused Sir Keir Starmer of having difficulty in “defining a woman” in an attack on Labour’s about-turns, while the mother of the trans teenager attended Prime Minister’s Questions.

An immediate backlash, including from Tory MPS, followed the comments, with one MP prompting Mr Sunak to apologise while still in the chamber.

Peter Spooner, Brianna’s father, said that Mr Sunak should say sorry for the remark, describing it as “degrading” and “dehumanising”.

Mr Philp said the Prime Minister, along with Michelle Donelan, the Digital Secretary, wanted to meet the bereaved parents.

When asked when Mr Sunak would meet with Ms Ghey, Mr Philp said: “I don’t know. I know that the Prime Minister would be very happy to do that, very keen to do that. I think the Digital and Science Secretary wants to meet Brianna’s mum to talk about issues to do with social media which were relevant in this case and I hope that that happens as soon as possible.”

Sir Keir met with Esther Ghey while she was in Parliament, writing on social media afterwards that he was “utterly in awe” of her “strength and bravery in the face of such unimaginable grief ”.

Mr Philp also defended Mr Sunak’s transgender comment, despite being told of the family’s reaction to the remarks. He told BBC Breakfast: “The Prime Minister made no reference at all to any individual trans people. It was Keir Starmer who introduced that. The Prime Minister was making a point about Labour’s very numerous flip-flops.

“Anyone who is interested in this issue should actually listen to the clip, listen to the initial exchange.”

Asked if he was suggesting that Mr Spooner had misunderstood Mr Sunak’s comments, Mr Philp said: “I have got every respect for, obviously, the views and feelings of a bereaved father.”

‘Anyone who is interested in this issue should listen to the clip, listen to the initial exchange’