Starmer refuses to apologise to MP over transphobia row

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to apologise to MP Rosie Duffield over historic disagreements on trans issues, instead accusing Kemi Badenoch of using the topic as a "political football".

- MILLIE COOKE

Ms Duffield, who now sits as an independent after quitting the Labour Party, has been accused of transphobia for her push to protect single-sex spaces, and has previously claimed the prime minister has “a problem with women”. At yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), the Tory leader and the prime minister took swipes at each other over last week’s Supreme Court judgment on biological sex, with Ms Badenoch accusing Sir Keir of “hounding [Ms Duffield] out of the Labour Party”.

The judgment, which states that the definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex, means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces. Asked by the Tory leader whether he would apologise to the MP for Canterbury, Sir Keir said: “I always approach this on the basis that we should treat everyone with dignity and respect, whatever their different views, and I will continue to do so.”