Rishi Sunak today declares “I know what a woman is” as he throws his backing behind our crusade to protect crucial women’s rights. The Prime Minister pledges his support for MPs Miriam Cates and Rosie Duffield, who joined forces across the political divide in the battle to defend single-sex spaces.
Writing for the Daily Express, Mr Sunak champions our campaign against trans-extremism which means even words like woman or mother are being called into question.
In his strongest intervention on the issue so far, he explains that as the father of two daughters, women’s rights are “personal to me”.
“And as Prime Minister, it is my job to ensure that women are given every protection the state can put in place,” he added.
Labour’s Ms Duffield and Conservative Ms Cates came together in our newspaper last week to put the issue at the top of the agenda ahead of local elections on May 4.
Mr Sunak wrote: “I am pledging my support to Miriam Cates MP and Rosie Duffield MP’s call to protect women’s rights and ensure the dignity of women and girls by preserving single-sex spaces such as women’s refuges and rape crisis centres.”
The PM said he has “enormous compassion and understanding” for people questioning their identity.
But he warned “we must also recognise the challenges that this can pose”.
Ms Cates and Ms Duffield have five key demands they say are vital in protecting women in the clash with trans rights.
They called for single-sex spaces, protections for children, female-only sporting categories, the preservation of language such as mother and the right for women to raise concerns without being branded bigots.
Those demands were backed wholeheartedly by Mr Sunak.
He wrote: “When it comes to women’s spaces, women’s prisons, changing rooms, sports, health, I believe that biological sex really matters.
“I know what a woman is – and I’ll protect women’s rights and women’s spaces. That’s why I am supporting the Express’s campaign today.”
Mr Sunak’s unequivocal statement that he knows what a woman is and biology matters will come as a relief to many who feared speaking out in case they faced a backlash.
And it comes in stark contrast to the position taken by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who insists some women can have penises.
He said earlier this month that “99.9 percent” of women do not have male genitalia, which means he believes around one in a thousand women do.
Sir Keir has insisted that “trans women are women” even though most do not have gender reassignment surgery.
The Labour leader also publicly denounced Ms Duffield as “wrong” for stating that only women have cervixes.
Ms Duffield told us last week how the Labour Party is “quite content” to let her be “hounded and harassed non-stop” in the row over trans rights.
The Canterbury MP said a London-centric clique close to Sir Keir had left her “isolated” and she has relied on the “kindness” of Conservative MPs to make life in Parliament bearable.
Women’s rights are personal to me, I want my girls to grow up where they can be safe and their rights respected – Rishi Sunak
Ms Duffield, who is a survivor of domestic abuse, said: “I am grateful to the Prime Minister for making such a clear statement about protecting those spaces for women who need and deserve to feel safe.
“This shouldn’t be a controversial issue or used as a party political football.
“Voters have every right to know where all politicians stand on these matters.”
Ms Duffield and Ms Cates have championed the need for women’s rights secured over a century of hard-fought battles to be protected when there is a clash with trans rights.
Institutions like health trusts have steadily changed policies and language without any consultation with women’s groups.
Other organisations, such as domestic violence refuges and rape crisis centres, have been opening their doors to trans women – someone born a man – many of whom have not undergone gender reassignment surgery.
When it comes to women’s spaces, women’s prisons, changing rooms, sports and health, I believe that biological sex really matters. Like many parents across our country, my thoughts on waking up every morning, and going to bed every night, are on how I can keep my daughters safe and happy.
I want them to grow up in a world where they are free to live their lives the way they wish, where their needs are met, their rights are respected, and where they can go about their daily lives safe and protected.
As a father, women’s rights are personal to me. And as Prime Minister, it is my job to ensure that women are given every protection the state can put in place.
That’s why in February, we introduced a range of measures to better protect victims and ensure perpetrators feel the full force of the law, building on the landmark legislation we have already brought in to keep women safe.
It’s why we are putting millions into making our streets safer, including funding for more street lighting and CCTV.
It’s why I am committed to creating a fairer society, where women and girls are given the opportunity to study what they want, take up the careers that they want, and go as far as their talents will take them.
And it’s why today I am pledging my support to Miriam Cates MP and Rosie Duffield MP’s call to protect women’s rights and ensure the dignity of women and girls by preserving single-sex spaces such as women’s refuges and rape crisis centres.
I have enormous compassion and understanding for people questioning their identity – and there is a route available for those who want to transition.
Treating people with respect and ensuring people can live their lives the way they wish, is very much part of who we are as a country.
But we must also recognise the challenges that this can pose.
And when it comes to women’s spaces, women’s prisons, changing rooms, sports, and health, I believe that biological sex really matters. I know what a woman is – and I’ll protect women’s rights and women’s spaces.
That’s why I am supporting the Express’s campaign today.
Some sporting bodies have allowed male-bodied competitors who identify as women to take part in competitions.
Both MPs have faced an onslaught of abuse for their work campaigning on the issue despite clearly stating they are not anti-trans, they simply want women’s spaces protected.
Ms Cates welcomed Mr Sunak’s clear approach to the issue.
She said: “The Prime Minister has consistently defended the importance of single-sex spaces for the protection and dignity of women and girls.
“Although it shouldn’t be contentious to stand up for women’s safety, we have to accept that in the current political climate his stance is a brave one, and he deserves credit for speaking out.
“The prime minister has said that he looks at these issues as a father, not a politician and that is absolutely the right approach to take.”
Conservative Mark Jenkinson, a member of the Women and Equalities select committee, said: “It’s great to have a leader who knows what a woman is and isn’t afraid to say it.
“As a father of daughters, I need to know that leaders don’t bow to the latest social contagion and are willing to protect their rights.”
Politicians and public figures have been left afraid to speak out about the issue because of a fear of backlash.
Both Ms Duffield and Ms Cates felt targeted in the Commons in January in a debate about the SNP’s bid to make it easier for people to change gender legally in Scotland – something PM Rishi Sunak blocked and which was brought into sharp focus by the Isla Bryson case.
Ms Duffield was shouted down by former Labour minister Ben Bradshaw, who heckled her for talking “absolute rubbish”.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling is possibly the most well-known defender of women-only spaces.
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