Tory deputy chair blasted for posting transphobic 'man in a wig' tweet
The Tory Party Deputy Chair for Women has shared a "transphobic" post calling her political opponent "a man who wears a wig and calls himself a 'proud lesbian'."
Rachel Maclean shared the post about Green candidate Melissa Poulton, a transgender woman, on Twitter/X, reportedly with a comment saying: "While the Greens don't know what a woman is, my Worcestershire neighbours the people of Bromsgrove certainly do." The post has since been deleted after the Tory MP for Redditch, Worcestershire, was accused of "attacking" Ms Poulton.
Green candidate Ms Poulton said: "It's a shame, without a shadow of a doubt it is a transphobic comment, it's dog-whistling at the finest." She said Ms Maclean's comments were "childish games from a government party who's going to be out office", adding: "I'm here for representation as a queer woman, as a woman with transgender experience. I'm sure the people of Redditch will see that they're attacking someone for who they are. We'll see what happens at the ballot box."
Melissa Poulton said the pot liked by Rachel Maclean was 'without a shadow of a doubt it is a transphobic comment'Ms Maclean deleted the post and apologised for "any offence caused", but not before it was viewed tens of thousands of times. “I am sorry for any offence caused and I have now deleted the tweet," she originally said. "I believe everyone should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity and to have the confidence and the freedom to be themselves."
She has since clarified her apology, saying she has not and will not apologise "for my comments relating to the Green Party’s extreme policies on gender and self ID ideology" after GB News appeared to ridicule her apology. The right wing news panel laughed at a photo of Ms Poulton, with one saying she was a "man in a wig", and said Ms Maclean was wrong to apologise.
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Ms Maclean, the former Housing Minister, who was sacked by Rishi Sunak in his reshuffle last month, shared the video of the GB news discussion on her social media, with the comment: "In fact I did NOT apologise for my comments relating to the Green Party’s extreme policies on gender and self ID ideology and am happy to come on to your program to explain my position in more detail. As Deputy Chair for Women, I am clear that the law allows me to say what a woman is and the difference between a woman and a trans woman. Both deserve respect and freedom to live their lives but it is not transphobic to say they are not the same thing. Nor does it assist policy makers across healthcare, education, the CJS to pretend they are."
Joe Baker, Labour group leader at Redditch Borough Council, said he believed the original post, and Ms Maclean sharing it, were "absolutely vile and hateful" and Ms Maclean now needed "to question her position". "People who hold positions of authority should be looking after those they are in a position to serve," he told the BBC. "I understand that the situation is sensitive and I believe everyone has a right to their opinions, but when that opinion promotes hate and harm then this needs to be challenged."
Ms Poulton told the Mirror: “Representation matters. Transgender people represent 0.25% of the population according to the 2021 national census. Transgender people deserve to be able to stand in all levels of government. I am proud to represent the Green Party in Bromsgrove. If people want to vote for me then they will. I work hard for people and people see that.”
In a statement to the Mirror, Ms Maclean said: “While I have apologised for any offence caused to the Green Party candidate, I have not and will not apologise for my comments relating to the Green Party’s extreme policies on gender and self ID ideology.
“Of course everyone should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity and to have the confidence and the freedom to be themselves. We should always have conversations relating to these issues in a respectful way, but there is a clear difference between sex and gender and I will not shy away from speaking up about those differences. That is why I am clear that the Conservative Party is the only party that understands what a woman is, and will fight in the face of a barrage of criticism to stand up for women’s rights.”
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