Sunak refuses to apologise for transgender joke during PMQS
Rishi Sunak has refused to apologise for making a transgender joke in the Commons, as Number 10 called the jibe at Labour “totally legitimate”.
The Prime Minister accused Sir Keir Starmer of having difficulty in “defining a woman” during an attack on Labour party U-turns.
But the joke, which was made as the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey was at the Houses of Parliament, has sparked condemnation, with former first minister Nicola Sturgeon describing the exchange as “truly terrible”.
Esther Ghey was understood not to be in the public gallery for the immediate remark, but entered later. Brianna’s father later demanded an apology from Mr Rishi Sunak for the “dehumanising” remark. Peter Spooner said he was “shocked” by the jibe.
Downing Street had earlier doubled down on the comments and insisted the joke was not transphobic.
Mr Sunak said: “We are bringing the waiting lists down for the longest waiters and making progress, but it is a bit rich to hear about promises from someone who has broken every single promise he was elected on. I think I have counted almost 30 in the last year. Pensions, planning, peerages, public sector pay, tuition fees, childcare, second referendums, defining a woman – although in fairness, that was only 99 per cent of a U-turn.”
The Labour leader, who met with Brianna’s mother later yesterday, condemned the Prime Minister’s remark with a chorus of opposition backbenchers calling out “shame”.
Number 10 declined repeatedly to apologise for Mr Sunak’s language and said it was part of a “legitimate” criticism of Labour.
Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: “If you look back on what the Prime Minister was saying, there was a long list of U-turns that the leader of the opposition had been making. I don’t think those U-turns are a joke, it is quite serious changes in public policy. I think it is totally legitimate for the Prime Minister to point those out.” She added: “It is clearly part of what happens in the chamber, at Prime Minister’s Questions, to point out the U-turns an opposition leader has made.”
The Labour leader immediately rebuked Mr Sunak for the joke. “Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna’s mother is in this chamber – shame,” he said. “Parading as a man of integrity when he’s got absolutely no responsibility.”
Sir Keir added: “I think the role of the Prime Minister is to ensure every single citizen in this country feels safe and respected, it’s a shame the Prime Minister doesn’t share that.”
Ms Sturgeon posted on social media in the wake of the exchange, saying: “This was truly terrible from Sunak. But let’s not kid ourselves – had Brianna’s mum not been there today, no-one (including Keir Starmer) would have batted an eyelid. It’s not good enough to stand against transphobia only when the mother of a murdered trans girl might be listening. It needs to be done all of the time.”
This was truly terrible from Sunak Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, above