Rishi Sunak has been criticised for aiming a political jibe about trans people at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – while the mother of murder victim Brianna Ghey attended Prime Minister’s Questions.
In Prime Minister’s Questions, his weekly showdown with MPs and the leader of the opposition, Mr Sunak said the Labour leader had broken promises on “defining a woman”.
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% of a U-turn.”
Sir Keir has previously said that 99.9% of women “haven’t got a penis”.
Responding to the prime minister, Sir Keir said: “Of all the weeks to say that – when Brianna [Ghey]’s mother is in this chamber. Shame.”
Responding to Mr Sunak’s comments, Chiara Capraro, Amnesty International UK’s Gender Justice Director, said: “The prime minister’s comments on trans people today were sickening and he should quickly – and unreservedly – apologise.
“If this is the example being set by the prime minister, then the situation is truly bleak.
“Today was appalling, but it’s not an isolated instance. Sections of the media and politicians who’ve long indulged in fearmongering, disinformation and dehumanisation of trans people have been contributing to a hostile anti-trans climate.
“Although it should never take a horrific hate crime to spark a degree of reflection, it’s not too late to change course.
“Standing up for trans people is important for everyone, and if we undermine the human rights of a small group of people there will be damaging consequences for all of us.”
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