SQUIRMING Sir Keir Starmer was today savaged for talking “absolute twaddle” in a row over protecting women’s spaces.
The Labour leader was blasted by a fuming voter who accused him of compromising female “dignity” by letting trans people into their toilets.
Keir Starmer came under pressure on women’s spaces todayPA
He insisted he was committed to single-sex spaces but is under mounting pressure on the thorny issue after vowing to make it easier for people to legally change gender.
In a fiery radio grilling today, caller Jane said he was “not listening to biological women when they say they don’t want to share a space with biological men”.
Sir Keir insisted: “I am listening, and it goes back many years.”
But Jane blasted: “What I care about is you saying you’re going to allow men to identify as women, making GRCs easier and they can come into women’s spaces.”
Sir Keir said: “Yes, we do want to make the process more dignified.”
Jane replied: “This isn’t about being kind or dignified, it’s about protecting women. Why are you putting our dignity on the line?
“We need to treat them differently and say you have a third space… We want you to say sex will not be changed and you will protect us from men coming into our space.”
Sir Keir said: “I have protected in the past and have worked with those protecting spaces. I’m particularly concerned about refuges for violence and women and girls and the spaces for biological women to be safe there, the same in sport, the same in hospitals.”
Jane asked him to assure her biological men would not be allowed into women’s spaces, and said he had responded with “absolute twaddle”.
The Labour leader said: “I will protect women’s spaces, that is my commitment. But just hear me out, there are some people who do not identify with the gender they are born into, they are often traumatised by that.
“There has been a process in place… We will protect women’s spaces, I’ve been clear about for a very long time. I know you don’t want to hear what I have done but we will do it in the future as well.
“But I will also say this. There are a small number, granted, of people who are born into a sex that they do not identify with, who are often very traumatised.
“For 20 years now we have a law that allows that to be recognised with a certificate, and I will treat them, as I will treat everyone in this country, with respect and not allow this to be a toxic discussion.”
Rishi Sunak has pledged to change the Equality Act to make clear the legal definition of sex refers to “biology”.
He said during Wednesday’s BBC debate that was the only way to safeguard women’s sports and spaces.
And the PM attacked Sir Keir – who has come under pressure from his own MPs and previous backers like JK Rowling – for not matching the commitment.