‘You’re playing silly!’ Ben Leo locks horns with GB News guest in tense trans row

The debate quickly escalated when discussing bathroom access for transgender individuals and perceived threats in women's spaces.

Leo insisted that "women don't want biological men in their spaces," while Matthewson countered that "trans people are not confused."

The exchange grew more intense when discussing trans men's bathroom access.

"Where do you want trans men to go to the bathroom?" Matthewson challenged.

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Leo responded: "It's a bit different as they are women."

"They're not women. They're trans men. Most of them have better facial hair than you or I will ever have," Matthewson countered.

Leo replied: "As the court said, they're women. That's because they take testosterone while I have to produce facial hair naturally."

The debate further escalated when Leo claimed men are "generally taller, faster, bigger" and can "manhandle women."

The debate follows a landmark UK Supreme Court ruling last Wednesday that defined "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act as referring to biological sex, not legal gender reassignment.

The ruling clarified that transgender women, even those with a Gender Recognition Certificate, can be excluded from single-sex spaces if "proportionate".

The case was brought by conservative group For Women Scotland, whose co-founder Susan Smith welcomed the decision.

LGBTQ+ organisations, including Stonewall, warned the ruling could have serious negative consequences for the transgender community.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the vandalism of statues during protests "disgraceful," particularly as they targeted figures known for fighting for justice.

The ruling has sparked protests across Britain, with thousands of transgender individuals and supporters taking to the streets of London on Saturday.

Seven statues, including one of suffragist Millicent Fawcett, were reportedly vandalised during the London demonstration.

In Nottingham, around 500 people gathered around the Brian Clough statue, which was wrapped in a transgender flag.

Protesters carried placards with messages such as "we're not going anywhere" and "trans rights are human rights".

Jennifer Kaye, co-chair of Nottingham Against Transphobia, called the ruling "disgusting" and said "people are feeling very scared".

"The danger to women is men. It's not trans women," Matthewson insisted during the exchange.

Leo firmly responded: "Trans women are men, I'm sorry."