How the trans row exposed a gaping chasm among Tory MPS
Rishi Sunak had it all planned out – he would take on Nicola Sturgeon to look tough on the trans issue and to open up a front against Labour.
But within days these plans were derailed when public rifts opened in the Conservative Party on the issue of banning trans conversion therapy.
Last night Tory MPS said “dozens” of backbenchers would oppose the ban unless the Government came forward with safeguards to protect parents from having legitimate conversations with their children about whether they really want to change gender.
They pinned the blame for the division on pro-trans Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, an ally of Penny Mordaunt. On Monday, Alister Jack, Scottish Secretary, announced he was blocking the SNP leader’s law which made it easier to legally change gender, including lowering the age to 16.
Mr Jack said he would invoke the Scotland Act, blocking the Bill, because it conflicted with the Uk-wide Equalities Act on women’s rights. The decision united most of the Tories and caused problems for Labour, with one shadow cabinet member admitting it was difficult for them to agree a policy.
But a timing issue was to cause problems for the Government. Mr Jack had to make his announcement on his reaction to Ms Sturgeon’s Bill by yesterday, which is why the statement was made in the Commons the day before. However, on Friday, Ms Kearns had put down an amendment to a separate piece of legislation – the Online Safety Bill – which forced the Government’s hand on conversion therapy. Her amendment stated that internet content which advertises or promotes conversion therapy must be considered “harmful” – meaning the sites could be prosecuted.
The Bill was due to be debated in the Commons this week, meaning ministers had to decide how to respond quickly. Their answer, which emerged at the weekend, was to say that a Bill to ban conversion therapy would be published in draft form in the coming months – and that it would include a ban on therapists trying to persuade people not to change gender.
On Tuesday – the day Mr Jack made his statement – Michelle Donelan, the Culture Secretary, put out a ministerial statement confirming the move, as well as pledging that parents, teachers and doctors would not be criminalised.
On the one hand, this had the desired effect – Ms Kearns removed her amendment to the Online Safety Bill. But on the other, it exposed Tory divisions on the trans issue.
Last night former deputy PM Damian Green said “dozens” of Tory MPS could vote against a trans conversion ban if the Government does not get the safeguards right.
Former children’s minister Tim Loughton has also predicted a “big backlash”, and he suggested that better party management could have prevented the conversion therapy announcement overshadowing the row with Scotland.
Another Tory MP said Ms Kearns was at fault: “Alicia is not controllable by party managers, and she is very passionately involved in these trans issues, on the wrong side. There is no managing someone like that. At some stage the Tory party was going to have to come to a position on these issues, and it has certainly caused confusion that the Scottish issue and the online safety issue came out on the same day.
“What Alicia will find out is that she is not the centre of gravity of the Tory party on this.
“The Prime Minister will face more pressure from the majority side of the party on this. This side believes that people should not be allowed to self-identify, it should not be allowed to medically alter anyone who is not an adult, and that women’s spaces need to be protected.”
Another MP said: “Michelle Donelan’s announcement was all about fixing an issue with the Online Safety Bill, which had to be sorted out because it is a manifesto commitment.
“Unfortunately it is something that has allowed the perception of public division when I’m not convinced there is much division.”
‘It has caused confusion that the Scottish issue and the online safety issue came out on the same day’