'Rishi Sunak's government has turned trans lives into a political football'

07 February 2024 , 21:37

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Murdered teenager Brianna Ghey and her mum Esther

The Prime Minister’s comments are disappointing but not surprising.

This government has turned trans lives like my own into a political football. It shouldn’t take the presence of a grieving mother, whose compassion puts him to shame, for politicians from all sides to call out transphobic jibes when they see and hear them.

Just last year, Rishi Sunak stood in the same spot and sent his “heartfelt condolences” to Brianna’s family and all those who were privileged to know her. If only he could take better note of Mrs Justice Yip’s remarks when sentencing Brianna’s killers that they were partly driven by anti-trans hatred.

His Cabinet colleague Kemi Badenoch has accused Labour of “weaponising” Brianna’s death to score a political points. But Badenoch and her fellow Tories have got things hopelessly back to front.

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Out of touch Rishi Sunak doesn't regularly read papers or online news sites

For only under the Tories have trans rights and trans lives been weaponised as the next frontier of their toxic culture wars in a last-ditch attempt to save themselves from electoral wipeout.

Every time I write about trans issues there’s a torrent of disgusting abuse on social media, every bigoted troll feeling empowered by no less than the Prime Minister.

He needs to remember trans people, like Brianna, are real people, with full, vibrant lives, and who are hurt by his words.

The least we can do now is honour Brianna Ghey as she was. May she rest in peace as the schoolgirl she should have been allowed to be.

Mizy Judah Clifton