We should all be worried about Labour's gender agenda, says Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister, said: «We should all be worried about Labour's real plans, if you've ever been in government' Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of planning to make it easier for people to change their gender if he ever comes to power.

Delegates to the Labor Party's annual conference in Liverpool will do so. vote in favor of the proposal to “modernise, simplify and reform” the transition process. If approved, it is likely to become a key feature of the party's manifesto.

Sir Keir insists he no longer supports self-identification, with people being allowed to legally change their gender without the help of doctors. 'certificate.

But Ms Badenoch, the equalities minister, suggested the policy wording paves the way for removing the current need for doctors to sign off on gender reassignment.

“Labour has supported self-identification for five years because it really believes in this,” she said.

“Policies that put women and girls at risk. This policy document shows that they have not changed their minds. We should all be concerned about their real plans if they ever end up in government.»

Anneliese Dodds, Labour's equalities spokeswoman, told delegates on Sunday the party was «modernising» the process of gender transition, without going into detail about how it could be achieved.

She also repeated the party's pledge to ban conversion. therapy, in which therapists would be prohibited from trying to convert gay people to straight people or preventing a person from changing gender.

“We will achieve what the Conservatives have failed by implementing a complete, loophole-free, trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy,” she said she.

“And we will modernize the Gender Recognition Act to a new process, while continuing to support the implementation of the Equality Act, which protects everyone.”

This contrasts with the words of Rishi Sunak, who spoke at the Tory conference last week: “We should not be bullied into believing that people can be whatever gender they want — they can’t.

“A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. It's just common sense.»

But a report from Labour's National Policy Forum, which will be voted on on Monday, said: “The gender recognition process is intrusive, outdated and demeaning. The Labor Party will modernize, simplify and transform gender recognition law into a new process, taking into account international evidence that it works.»

Sir Keir initially supported self-identification but backed down after Nicola's move. The move by Sturgeon, the former leader of the SNP, caused a political storm.

Julie Bindel, a feminist campaigner, said the Labor Party was «tying itself in knots», adding: «It wants to be seen as fully supportive of the new wave of trans people.» ideology, women-only spaces and gender rights, but has the audacity to accuse the Tories of “weaponising the gender war”.

“It’s very difficult to trust Labor because it has become so entrenched in trans ideology in recent years, with Starmer saying “some women can have penises” and Lisa Nandy arguing that men who commit child sex crimes by posing as women are being punished. should be allowed to join women's organizations. prisons.”

Ms. Bindel said the conference proposal “can only mean the removal of the requirement for a medical diagnosis and the approval of a panel of experts in the process of legal gender reassignment.”

She added: “I am not alone in suspecting that senior figures in the Labor Party, including Keir Starmer, remain committed to introducing self-identification if they win the election.

“Many trans activists within the party continue to speak out publicly in support of this nonsense — a couple of weeks ago Kate Osborne MP tweeted: «Yes, some women have penises.»

Labour refused to comment on Ms Badenoch's attack.

Trans-right activists outside the Labor Party conference in Liverpool on Sunday Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Police separated rival protesters on opposite sides of the identity debate outside the party's conference on Sunday.

Pro-trans activists, some wearing masks, waved banners with slogans including “f*** terfs,” an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist, a term used to describe gender-critical women's rights activists.

Gender activists included posters reading: «Keir Starmer, 100 per cent of women don't have a penis» in a reference to Sir Keir's comments earlier this year that «99.9 per cent» of women do not have male genitalia.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at gender-critical group Sex Matters, said: “Men wearing masks, shouting and being aggressive towards women exposes the misogyny at the heart of extreme trans activism.”

p>»It happens.» everywhere women gather to talk about their specific rights, needs and vulnerabilities: in Canada, Brazil and New Zealand; Manchester, Edinburgh, London and now Liverpool.

“Anyone who still thinks “trans rights” is just “being kind” is burying their head in the sand. These are angry, entitled men who want men to have free access to facilities and services for women and girls.”