No 10 says Starmer not argues trans girls are girls amid barrage of harsh questions at briefing
The Downing Avenue foyer briefing this morning supplied illustration of why trans rights has turn into such a corrosive subject for Labour. Listed here are a few of the questions from reporters that the PM’s spokesperson had reply to about final week’s supreme court docket ruling.
Q: Does the PM nonetheless imagine a trans girl is a lady? No, the PM’s spokesperson replied. He mentioned the supreme court docket had set out the place.
Q: Does the PM remorse going additional than that in previous statements? The spokesperson mentioned he couldn’t touch upon the PM’s views when he was in opposition.
Q: If the PM meets trans girls, will he seek advice from them utilizing their most well-liked pronouns? The spokesperson mentioned he wouldn’t talk about hypotheticals, referred once more to the ruling, however mentioned trans folks needs to be handled “with dignity and respect”.
Q: When did the PM change his thoughts on what constitutes a lady, or did he go away this as much as the supreme court docket? The spokeperson mentioned Starmer has beforehand mentioned a lady is an grownup feminine. When it was put to him that Starmer used to say a trans girls are girls, the spokesperson mentioned he may solely touch upon what Starmer has mentioned since he has been PM.
Q: Did the PM change his thoughts on what a lady is earlier than he got here into authorities? The spokesperson mentioned that Starmer has repeatedly mentioned a lady is an grownup feminine.
Q: Does JK Rowling deserve an apology? The spokesperson mentioned he wouldn’t touch upon people.
Q: Why did it take the PM so lengthy to touch upon the supreme court docket ruling? The spokesperson mentioned the federal government issued a response after the ruling got here out. In the present day was the primary time when Starmer was requested about it, he mentioned.
There was once one thing of a consensus on trans rights in UK politics. When Theresa Could was PM in 2017, she proposed permitting folks to alter gender with out the necessity for medical checks – one thing that even Labour has now moved away from. There’s a thesis to be written on why opinion on this has shifted so swiftly.
Key occasions
Roz McCall, a Scottish Conservative MSP, has written to the presiding officer of the Scottish parliament, suggesting that discplinary motion needs to be taken in opposition to the Scottish Inexperienced MP Maggie Chapman over his feedback in regards to the supreme court docket. (See 12.51pm.) McCall says:
This afternoon, I’ve formally written to @POScotParl concerning the conduct of Maggie Chapman MSP following her feedback regarding the verdict of the Supreme Courtroom on the matter of For Girls Scotland v The Scottish Ministers (2024) UKSC 16.
MSPs have duties below the Code of Conduct and a authorized obligation below the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008. We should always all the time act to guard the independence of the judiciary and these feedback threatened the integrity of our judges. It can’t be allowed to face.
Trans folks have skilled ‘actual nervousness’ following supreme court docket judgment, MSPs informed
Transgender folks have skilled “actual nervousness” since final week’s supreme court docket ruling on how girls are outlined in equality legislation, MSPs have been informed.
Addressing the Scottish parliamment, Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish authorities’s social justice secretary, mentioned:
Stakeholders that signify trans and non-binary individuals are reporting actual nervousness from their networks and repair customers and considerations about their every day lives.
It’s important that the supreme court docket acknowledged that their judgment that the rights of the trans group are enshrined in legislation and I need to reassure our trans group that you’re valued and the Scottish authorities is absolutely dedicated to defending everybody’s rights and that features your group.
Somerville mentioned the Scottish authorities accepted the court docket’s ruling, which she described as “important”. The federal government would “take time to contemplate it”, she mentioned.
She confirmed that the federal government would amend its steerage on the Gender Illustration on Public Boards (Scotland) Act that triggered the authorized problem that led to the supreme court docket judgment. (The unique steerage mentioned {that a} trans girl would rely as a lady for the needs of the gender illustration guidelines.)
And Somerville additionally confirmed the Scottish authorities had “no plans” to convey again its gender recognition reform invoice, which might have allowed self-ID for trans folks wanting a gender recognition certificates and which was blocked by the UK authorities.
DUP criticises minister for suggesting opinion polls may decide whether or not referendum held on Irish reunification
Rory Carroll
Rory Carroll is the Guardian’s Eire correspondent.
Debate over when, or if, Northern Eire could have a referendum on a united Eire has kindled again to life, presumably accidentally.
The 1998 Good Friday Settlement says a secretary of state ought to name a referendum if it seems “probably” that almost all of these voting would select to go away the UK. Successive Northern Eire ministers, Tory and Labour, have been coy in regards to the standards, leaving loads of wiggle room.
Nevertheless when the general public coverage journal agendaNi.com requested Fleur Anderson, the under-secretary of state, in regards to the standards she gave a transparent reply: “It could be primarily based on opinion polls.”
The London MP, who was appointed to the publish after Labour’s victory final July, didn’t point out election outcomes, or the proportion of nationalist and unionist councillors, meeting members and MPs, or demographic shifts.
The Northern Eire Workplace appeared to distance itself from her response – and to revive the mist that shrouds the difficulty – by saying duty for a referendum sits solely with the secretary of state. “This has been — and stays — the one situation. The secretary of state has been clear that there isn’t any proof that this situation has been met.”
The DUP referred to as Anderson’s comment “ill-considered” and identified that since 1998 assist for Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic Labour get together – representing the nationalist bloc – has remained static at round 38%.
Sinn Féin, in distinction, insists momentum is shifting in direction of unity. A current LucidTalk ballot confirmed 48% of Northern Eire voters want to stay within the UK and 41% favour constitutional change – a niche that has considerably narrowed over the previous decade.
IMF warns of ‘main destructive shock’ from Trump’s tariffs, because it cuts its UK development forecast from 1.6% to 1.1%
Donald Trump’s tariffs have unleashed a “main destructive shock” into the world financial system, the Worldwide Financial Fund has mentioned, because it minimize its forecasts for US, UK and world development. The IMF now says the UK is predicted to develop by 1.1% this 12 months, down from 1.6% predicted in January. Heather Stewart has the story.
No 10 says Starmer not argues trans girls are girls amid barrage of harsh questions at briefing
The Downing Avenue foyer briefing this morning supplied illustration of why trans rights has turn into such a corrosive subject for Labour. Listed here are a few of the questions from reporters that the PM’s spokesperson had reply to about final week’s supreme court docket ruling.
Q: Does the PM nonetheless imagine a trans girl is a lady? No, the PM’s spokesperson replied. He mentioned the supreme court docket had set out the place.
Q: Does the PM remorse going additional than that in previous statements? The spokesperson mentioned he couldn’t touch upon the PM’s views when he was in opposition.
Q: If the PM meets trans girls, will he seek advice from them utilizing their most well-liked pronouns? The spokesperson mentioned he wouldn’t talk about hypotheticals, referred once more to the ruling, however mentioned trans folks needs to be handled “with dignity and respect”.
Q: When did the PM change his thoughts on what constitutes a lady, or did he go away this as much as the supreme court docket? The spokeperson mentioned Starmer has beforehand mentioned a lady is an grownup feminine. When it was put to him that Starmer used to say a trans girls are girls, the spokesperson mentioned he may solely touch upon what Starmer has mentioned since he has been PM.
Q: Did the PM change his thoughts on what a lady is earlier than he got here into authorities? The spokesperson mentioned that Starmer has repeatedly mentioned a lady is an grownup feminine.
Q: Does JK Rowling deserve an apology? The spokesperson mentioned he wouldn’t touch upon people.
Q: Why did it take the PM so lengthy to touch upon the supreme court docket ruling? The spokesperson mentioned the federal government issued a response after the ruling got here out. In the present day was the primary time when Starmer was requested about it, he mentioned.
There was once one thing of a consensus on trans rights in UK politics. When Theresa Could was PM in 2017, she proposed permitting folks to alter gender with out the necessity for medical checks – one thing that even Labour has now moved away from. There’s a thesis to be written on why opinion on this has shifted so swiftly.
Keir Starmer has mentioned it’s “extremely humbling” to see the work being performed by allied nations to coach Ukrainian troops, PA Media experiences. PA says:
The prime minister additionally praised the “resilience” of Ukrainians as he visited a army base alongside his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, to see the work below Operation Interflex.
Greater than 54,000 Ukrainians have already obtained coaching below the programme.
Starmer mentioned: “That is the second time I’ve come to see this coaching for the entrance line in Ukraine, and, simply as with the primary time, I discover it extremely humbling to see the coaching that’s being performed right here.”
Addressing the opposite nations collaborating within the coaching, together with Australia and New Zealand, he added: “It’s actually humbling, it’s extremely skilled. It couldn’t be extra essential three years into this battle, and it’s so essential by way of the coaching that’s being performed.”
The prime minister additionally thanked the Ukrainians collaborating within the programme and mentioned it’s “unimaginable to see the resilience and inspiration that you’ve got”.
He added: “I feel it’s unimaginable that the entire predictions at first of this battle had been that the aggressor Russia would succeed in a short time, and so they didn’t. Due to the resilience of the Ukrainians, since you fought forwards and backwards in your nation and fought for all of us in combating in your nation.”
As a part of at the moment’s go to, Starmer and Luxon are anticipated to instruct their respective defence ministers to start work on a brand new defence partnership between the 2 nations, changing the one signed in 2015. [See 12.19pm.]
In her In the present day programme interview this morning Bridget Phillipson, the training secretary and minister for ladies and equalities, mentioned the supreme court docket ruling meant that trans girls ought to use male bathrooms. (See 9.55am.) In a later interview she gave a extra nuanced reply, saying it was as much as pubs to resolve their very own rest room coverage. (See 10.28am.)
On the Downing Avenue foyer briefing the PM’s spokesperson sided with the primary model of Phillipson’s reply. Requested what rest room a trans particular person ought to use, the spokesperson replied:
They’d use a toilet in step with their organic intercourse, as per the rule … That’s what the training secretary mentioned this morning, and that’s what the court docket judgement makes clear – that every one folks ought to comply with their organic intercourse when deciding what providers they use.
No 10 refuses to decide to reversing Badenoch’s legislation curbing provide of unisex bathrooms – regardless of minister hinting extra wanted
In her In the present day programme interview Kemi Badenoch defended not having agency insurance policies on some points by saying that the Conservatives are in opposition and that an election will not be imminent. However, on the isssue of single-sex bathrooms, Badenoch continues to be exerting appreciable affect over authorities coverage.
That’s as a result of in Could final 12 months, shortly earlier than the final election, Badenoch mentioned that the federal government was bringing in secondary laws to mandate “single intercourse rest room amenities in new non-domestic buildings to alleviate security, privateness and dignity considerations”. She introduced it in a information launch saying the brand new legislation would “halt the march of gender-neutral bathrooms in buildings”.
The laws are right here. Authorities officers have just lately confirmed to the Guardian that they continue to be in power.
In her In the present day programme interview this morning, in her response to the query about which rest room a trans particular person ought to use, Bridget Phillipson steered she needed to see extra gender-neutral provision in place. (See 9.55am.)
However the guidelines mandate the alternative. As the federal government defined in Could final 12 months:
Adjustments to constructing laws will imply that new non-domestic buildings, together with eating places, buying centres, workplaces and public bathrooms might be required to supply separate single-sex bathrooms for men and women. Self-contained, common bathrooms could also be supplied as well as, the place house permits, or as an alternative of single-sex bathrooms the place there isn’t sufficient house.
On the Downing Avenue foyer briefing, the PM’s spokesperson was requested if the federal government deliberate to alter the Badenoch laws to make it simpler for organisations to supply unisex bathrooms. The spokesperson mentioned he was not conscious of the laws, though he mentioned the laws might be “up to date as wanted” following the court docket judgment.
He went on:
I feel the court docket judgement offers readability on one thing that’s already authorities coverage, which is that single-sex areas needs to be protected, will all the time be protected.
The ruling brings readability and confidence to service suppliers, reminiscent of hospitals, refuges and sports activities golf equipment.
This reply means that authorities is pleased with the present laws.
Phillipson to make assertion to MPs about supreme court docket ruling affecting legislation on single-sex areas
There might be three ministerial statements within the Commons this afternoon, in addition to an pressing questions. Right here they’re with tough timings.
3.30pm: A housing minister solutions an pressing query from the Conservatives on the Birmingham bin strike.
Round 4.15pm: John Healey, the defence secretary, makes a press release on Ukraine.
Round 5.15pm: Bridget Phillipson, the training secretay and minister for ladies and equalities, makes a press release about final week’s supreme court docket ruling.
Round 6.15pm: Sarah Jones, a enterprise minister, provides a press release on British Metal.
College of Advocates criticises Scottish Inexperienced MSP over ‘appalling’ assault on supreme court docket
Maggie Chapman, a Scottish Inexperienced MSP and deputy convenor of the Scottish parliament’s equalities, human rights and civil justice committee, has been strongly condemned for remarks she made criticising the supreme court docket for its ruling on the definition of ‘a lady’ in equality legislation.
The College of Advocates, the Scottish equal of the Bar Council, has launched an open letter describing the feedback as “appalling” and an assault on the independence of the judiciary.
Within the letter, Roddy Dunlop KC, dean of the college, says:
It was with appreciable concern and dismay that we learn experiences of Ms Chapman MSP addressing a public gathering within the wake of the current ruling in For Girls Scotland v Scottish Ministers. In video footage which is circulating extensively on-line, she is seen to sentence what she claims is the “bigotry, prejudice and hatred that we see coming from the Supreme Courtroom”.
These are appalling feedback to come back from any elected politician. They’re all the more serious after they come from somebody who holds the publish of Deputy Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
It actually mustn’t require to be mentioned, however the Supreme Courtroom – certainly, all judges – are in publish to use the legislation. They don’t take sides. They resolve with out worry or favour, constantly with the judicial oath. For Ms Chapman to assert that they had been swayed by “bigotry, prejudice and hatred” is outrageous. We’re speaking in regards to the apex court docket of those islands, on this occasion made up of a bench which included two of Scotland’s most interesting authorized minds, in addition to two girls. No wise particular person may learn their dispassionate evaluation and conclude that they had been swayed by such issues.
Starmer to attend Pope’s funeral, No 10 says
Keir Starmer might be attending the Pope’s funeral in Rome on Saturday, Downing Avenue has confirmed.
Jakub Krupa has full protection of occasions following the Pope’s loss of life, and preparations for the funeral, on his Europe reside weblog.
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