Friday, February 09, 2024

UK

Conservative  MP Dehenna Davison criticises Rishi Sunak for 'disappointing' Commons trans joke


Wednesday 7 February 2024

The Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland has hit out at the Prime Minister for a "disappointing" joke in Prime Minister's Questions about transgender people.

Dehenna Davison warned that politicians' words "resonate right across our society".

It came after Rishi Sunak mocked the Labour leader's stance on "defining a woman" after the Commons heard the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey was watching from the gallery.

Brianna Ghey's father calls Sunak transgender jibe in Commons 'dehumanising'

In a post on X, Ms Davison said: "The debate around trans issues often gets inflamed at the fringes. As politicians, it’s our job to take the heat out of such debates and focus on finding sensible ways forward, whilst ensuring those involved are treated with respect.

"Given some of the terrible incidences of transphobia we have seen lately, this need for respect feels more crucial than ever."That’s why it was disappointing to hear jokes being made at the trans community’s expense. Our words in the House resonate right across our society, and we all need to remember that."
Dehenna Davison has criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his Commons trans joke.
Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The Labour leader condemned the Prime Minister’s remark, with a chorus of opposition backbenchers calling out: "Shame."

The exchange took place during the Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, as the leaders clashed over the Government's missing targets to reduce NHS waiting lists.

Sir Keir said: "He says he stands by his commitments. He once insisted if he missed his promises, these are the words he used: ‘I am the Prime Minister,’ and then he said: ‘It is on me personally'.

"Today, we learn from his own officials that he is the blocker to any deal to end the doctors’ strikes and every time he is asked, he blames everyone else.

"So, what exactly did he mean when he said it is on him personally if he doesn’t meet his promise?"

Mr Sunak replied: "We are bringing the waiting lists down for the longest waiters and making progress, but it is a bit rich to hear about promises from someone who has broken every single promise he was elected on.

"I think I have counted almost 30 in the last year. Pensions, planning, peerages, public sector pay, tuition fees, childcare, second referendums, defining a woman – although in fairness, that was only 99% of a U-turn.

"The list goes on, but the theme is the same: it is empty words, broken promises and absolutely no plan."

Sir Keir hit back, saying: "Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna’s mother is in this chamber. Shame.

"Parading as a man of integrity when he’s got absolutely no responsibility."

Sir Keir had opened the session by telling MPs: "This week the unwavering bravery of Brianna Ghey’s mother Esther has touched us all. As a father, I can’t even imagine the pain that she is going through and I am glad that she is with us in the gallery here today."

Mr Sunak was later asked to apologise to Brianna’s mother for his "insensitive comment".

Labour MP for Blaydon Liz Twist said: "May I take the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister if he would consider apologising to Brianna Ghey’s mother for his insensitive comment?"

Mr Sunak did not directly respond to Ms Twist’s request.

Concluding Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Sunak said: "If I could just say also to Brianna Ghey’s mother who is here, as I said earlier this week, what happened was an unspeakable and shocking tragedy.

"As I said earlier this week, in the face of that, for her mother to demonstrate the compassion and empathy that she did last weekend, I thought demonstrated the very best of humanity in the face of seeing the very worst of humanity.

"She deserves all our admiration and praise for that."




Brianna Ghey's mum wants mindfulness taught in schools

Feb 7,2024
By Kristian Johnson
BBC News
Family handoutBrianna Ghey was described by her mother as "fearless, strong and brave"

The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has backed calls to put mindfulness onto the national curriculum.

Sixteen-year-old Brianna, who was transgender, was stabbed 28 times in a "ferocious attack" by teenagers Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe.

The pair were handed life sentences on Friday.

Esther Ghey is now part of a campaign to create "a lasting legacy" to her daughter.

She has already launched a local campaign in Warrington, which has raised £50,000 to deliver mindfulness training in schools in the area.

She is now backing a nationwide campaign alongside Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, which is calling on government to fund mindfulness programmes in every school in England.

Mindfulness is a calming technique. The charity Mind says it involves noticing what is happening in the present moment, without judgment.

I would speak to killer's mother - Brianna's mum
PM faces calls to apologise over trans jibe to Starmer
Teenage killers tried to get away with Brianna murder

"Brianna Ghey was sassy, beautiful, kind, courageous and authentically herself," Nichols told MPs at Westminster Hall.

"She was loved fiercely and her death was unspeakably tragic.

"No parent should ever have to bury their child, but to have gone through what Esther has and have the drive to seek positive change in the wake of that takes extraordinary courage and compassion."

Ms Nichols said the cost of such a programme would be "modest" and added: "This is an investment worth making for the future."

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said there are currently no plans to introduce mindfulness into every school.

But they said the current Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RSHE) curriculum has a "strong focus" on mental health and wellbeing, and all schools have been offered grants to train a senior mental health lead by 2025.

Ms Ghey was present for the Westminster Hall debate, which took place just hours after Prime Minister's Questions, when Rishi Sunak faced criticism for his comments about Sir Keir Starmer's position on trans people.


The PM had ridiculed the Labour leader for U-turning on the "definition of a woman".
Watch: Sunak makes trans jibe to Starmer at PMQs

Sir Keir, who was due to meet Ms Ghey after PMQs, said: "Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna's mother is in this chamber. Shame."

Ms Ghey was not in the public gallery for the exchange, but entered later.

When asked whether the prime minister's comment was transphobic, his press secretary said: "I don't accept that at all."

'Drastic action' needed

Ms Ghey has recently called for "drastic action" to protect children.

Mr Sunak has previously said the Online Safety Act is strong enough to protect children online.

But speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Ghey said she believes there needs to be further changes to the law, and added that mobile phone companies should take more responsibility.

"I would like to see the law change so that children only have access to children's mobile phones, and that could look exactly the same as an adult's mobile phone but without the ability to download social media apps, and there is software available already," she said.

Ms Ghey has also said children under the age of 16 should not have access to social media apps on smartphones.

Esther Ghey wants a law introduced so under-16s cannot access social media on their phones

However, parents have told the BBC it is "practically impossible" to take smartphones away from children who already have them.

James Turnham, who lives in Hackney, east London, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he limits the amount of time his children spend on apps, but said: "The pressure is relentless."

Anna - not her real name - told the Today programme she launched a campaign after her daughter tried to take her own life.

Called Just Say No, Stick To Bricks, it calls on parents and schools to restrict smartphone access for children.

Kate Edgcumbe-Rendle, from Worthing, West Sussex, leads online safety workshops in schools and said: "Once those smartphones are handed to our children, it is near enough impossible to get them off them again. The effects are profound."

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