Starmer: I get on well with Rosie Rosie: He hasn’t spoken to me for 3 years
JK Rowling hits out at Labour leader after trans backtrack
SIR Keir Starmer faced a backlash from JK Rowling last night over his treatment of an MP ostracised for speaking against trans extremists.
His comments came as it emerged the Labour leader has not spoken to Rosie Duffield for three years.
Sir Keir insisted yesterday that he got on well with Ms Duffield and called for an end to the “toxic” debate about gender.
And in a U-turn following the Government’s ruling that women can ask for hospital wards to be single-sex spaces, he said Labour would “make accommodations” if a trans woman was put on one against the will of biological women.
Abuse
Meanwhile, Ms Duffield told the Daily Express her leader had not said a word to her since 2021.
Harry Potter author Ms Rowling, 58, accused Sir Keir of indulging trans activists, while leaving women MPs to face threats of violence.
The prominent women’s rights campaigner said: “Male politicians who chose to pander to activists issuing violent threats against their own female MPs enabled and emboldened the toxic culture Sir Keir now claims to deplore.
“When you’re part of the cause, you’ve got some brass neck putting yourself forward as a cure.”
Ms Rowling’s outburst came after Sir Keir insisted he and leading feminist Ms Duffield “discuss a number of issues”. Canterbury MP Ms Duffield said: “Keir and I have not met or spoken on the issue of women’s rights since September 2021, nor have we met about any of the various disciplinary investigations sparked by organised complaints by LGBT Labour, Labour student groups etc.” Ms Duffield, 52, was forced to pull out of the party’s conference in 2021 after threats to her security amid a row over trans rights. She faced a torrent of abuse for supporting a tweet saying only women have a cervix.
Sir Keir later criticised Ms Duffield, saying the comment “is something that shouldn’t be said. It’s not right”.
However, in a breakfast TV interview yesterday the Labour leader backtracked, saying: “Biologically, she of course is right about that.
“What I said then and on other occasions is simply that I do not like the way this becomes, so quickly, a toxic conversation.
“I want the conversation to be had with respect.”
On single-sex wards, Sir Keir said: “Where we need to make accommodations, we can make accommodations. As a country, we’re a pretty reasonable tolerant bunch and most people know that there are a small number of individuals who do not identify with the gender that they were born into.
“Many suffer great distress and trauma.And for my part, I’m perfectly happy to say I would treat them as I would treat anybody – with respect.”
Sacrosanct
However, Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch insisted: “Keir Starmer flounders on this because the Labour Party is trying to hold a line it does not believe.
“Denying objective reality does not provide dignity.
“Single-sex spaces are sacrosanct. That is why we announced we are enshrining them in the NHS constitution.”