JK Rowling has criticised Labour for "abandoning" women over its stance on the rights of transgender people. Writing in the Times, external, the Harry Potter author said she would struggle to vote for Sir Keir Starmer, saying she had a "poor opinion" of his character. The former Labour donor accused the party under Sir Keir's leadership of a “dismissive and often offensive” approach to women's concerns. Labour said it was "the party of women’s equality, with a manifesto that puts women front and centre". Rowling's comments come after Sir Keir appeared to shift his position on transgender rights in Thursday's BBC Question Time election special. Last year, the Labour leader said "99.9% of women" do not have a penis and in 2021 stated it was "not right" for Labour MP Rosie Duffield to say that "only women have a cervix". On Thursday night, he said he agreed with former Labour leader Sir Tony Blair's position on the issue, saying "biologically, a woman is with a vagina and a man is with a penis". Asked about his previous comments on Ms Duffield, he said the debate at the time had become “very toxic, very divided, very hard line”. In her Times article, Rowling said: "The impression given by Starmer at Thursday's debate was that there had been something unkind, something toxic, something hard line in Rosie's words, even though almost identical words had sounded perfectly reasonable when spoken by Tony Blair." She added: "For left-leaning women like us this isn't, and never has been, about trans people enjoying the rights of every other citizen and being free to present and identify however they wish. "This is about the right of women and girls to assert their boundaries. It's about freedom of speech and observable truth."
Rightly or wrongly, I think Keir does have a problem when is comes to women with opinions opposite to his own, and for me it is very noticeable, I try to ignore it and think surely not, but each time it comes back and stares you in the face. More so for me coming from Kent, because Rosie Duffield is a Canterbury MP, so I get to see her views outside the main media, local coverage via Kentonline and via her twitter account - Keir has never come across as supportive of her, but the problems around this just get ignored, much like me ignoring them but my conscience keeps bringing me back to them. Not forgetting Dianne Abbott another woman MP, and views expressed by Rowling. I think Keir tries to say things that he thinks the mass media want to hear, but harsh lessons were learned by Nicola Sturgeon that that can come back and bite you on the arse bigtime. So what is Keir's honest view, his own real view I mean, I actually don't know, and it's the one thing that sort of sticks and don't go away - I get the stance on not being too forthwith with his tax plans, but sometimes we need to see the real Starmer but everytime it comes back to the Keir with the mask.
I actually agree with him about NATO. Having military in there and pushing for anti-defence weaponry parked on the borders with Russia was definitely to achieve one of two things - suffocate Russia geopolitically in the region, and/or provoke a reaction. Putin still had no justification for invading Ukraine though. And in the end the very thing he didn't want which was the likes of Finland and Sweden joining NATO is exactly what's happened. So once again the Americans/West did get what they want. It's all macheavelian **** imo. But what Farage says about the expansion of the EU eastwards is complete bollox. The countries that have done, had referendum and chose to do so, and why not? They're sovereign nations and have that right, it's not provoking anyone. I also doubt Putin gave a fck about it either. Farage has an emotional hang up about the EU and seems to want to blame them for everything.
When he was asked the obvious question about "what would you have done differently" during a Channel 4 thing on YouTube he just said: "Simple, invest in the military, a large military is the best deterrent." Yeah, lol, a military we clearly would never use against Russia as he just said even sniffing that someone wants to join NATO means declaring war is understandable. Farage simply doesn't have solutions, he is great at talking fast without a script and calling things bollocks, but he is not a problem solver. He'd be absolutely useless in any cabinet position, which is why we need him elected asap. He will be gone in no time.
What, MP's that are problem solvers lol... You sure mate, the Tories don't seem to have solved any problems in the last 14 years and if Keir is a problem solver he's not saying much, in fact he's keeping pretty schtum to win this election. Albeit I wouldn't want the Tories stealing my ideas, so pretty underestandable to a degree.
Spot on mate. And now he's getting scrutinised it shows. He loses the plot constantly and starts getting tetchy with interviewers and throwing his toys out the pram. How dare they ask him questions!! Was it him that had a meltdown and asked the journalist if he'd ever stood in an election? At which point even the journalist laughed and reminded him he's a journalist not a politician, and it was his job to ask him about his policies. Farage spent all his his time in one debate saying ALL our problems are bcos of a "population explosion" bcos obv immigration. Then moments later on a question about child benefits said ppl in the UK should have more children and should be encouraged to do so. He's full of ****.
You know why and to be pretty honest there still is not any opposition, Labour will only win because the Tories are so bad, and no other reason.
He's like Mogg. Who was tipped to be a future Tory leader possible PM ... Then when he got publicity said the people in Grenfell were simply too stupid to evacuate. He however, a genius, would have never died.
Hold on mate, you sure? Moggy's been fighting the establishment his whole life He's a vile prick tbh, would happily screw every person in this country to line his own pocket.
I went through a spell thinking he was alright tbh, but I've gotten wise thankfully. The things he says are just sometimes despicable.
@brb I wanna touch on a thing you said and I agree with you. This election is in truth the pits for choice, the Tories are a disgrace (I don't think the Tories are a wholly evil entity like some, I think there are decent Tories.) they have been in charge too long and lost their minds. Labour are uninspiring to say the least. Starmer is terrified to say anything that might cost him the PM job, it's obvious. The solution is simple, it's been simple for a long time. A new, more democratic, representative electoral system. But no one can be arsed, terrified of change. So, tbh, we have made this bed.
If it wasn't for their stand on the EU, I probably would. In fact I'd rather vote Green or LibDem over Labour but there's this stupid bit in my brain that sort of trusts Keir. He's a bit of dumbass that frustrates me over the genda stuff, and some of his treatment to the women in his party, but I think that's more his own insecurities of not wanting to say the wrong thing and appeal to all - although he makes a pretty bad job of it. But I do trust him to be more honest than any Tory and not rob our nation blind. At least he wont keep telling me stories about his mum and dad owned a chemist. I quite like the idea of farage getting into Westminster, but he don't need my help to do that, him and that other loon (forget his name again, supports Palestinians) would make prime minister question times lively....and if we could get Ian Blackford in they could be the three musketeers.
I'm not sure changing the electoral system is the answer tbph. I think people want it because it suits their political bias and that just rings alarm bells with me. What is the answer, I don't know, probably as you say terrified of change...but not the change that is the problem, more likely the people that are pursuing it because I trust no kunt.
and when a few years ago we had a referendum on changing the voting system we voted to keep first past the post
That was a joke lol. Come on Solid. "Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Green or UKIP? Do you want to have PR?" Most didn't even know it happened, what PR was or anything else. There wasn't even a campaign. Most probably don't even know what FPTP is and we talk about it every election. In fact, I know that most people don't, as even pensioners you see who have voted in countless elections, speak about Reform now like their vote intention means they will likely see Farage as PM. It had a 40% turnout and was tagged onto the local elections...
It wasn't even PR during that referendum, but AV which is even more convoluted than PR. The campaign was woeful and didn't really even attempt to explain to people what AV was, how it works, or how it would affect elections. So when it came to the actual referendum, I think a lot of people were like 'what the **** is this ?' and just binned it.
