A London councillor has been accused of stirring up "divisive nonsense" after criticising his Labour-run council for not consulting "trans and non-binary communities" on some new public toilets.
The new loos - part of Westminster City Council's modernisation scheme to freshen up the existing facilities - are set to be split into men's and women's toilets, and have large signs denoting as such.
But Ed Pitt Ford, a Conservative councillor and "LGBT+ Conservatives" member, sparked uproar by sharing images of the plans on social media.
Captioning his post, where the men's and women's signs are clearly visible, Pitt Ford took aim at the Labour-led authority for not going far enough to consult the transgender community.
Pitt Ford has urged the Labour-run council "to consult non-cisgendered people going forwards"
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL
Pitt Ford took aim at his Labour-led council for not going far enough to consult the trans community on the toilets
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL
He wrote: "I recently discovered that Labour-led Westminster City Council didn't consult the trans and non-binary communities for the refurbishment plans for flagship public toilets at Piccadilly Circus, Embankment and Green Park.
"I urge them to consult non-cisgendered people going forward."
His remarks immediately drew fury from social media users, with one, Brian Coleman, replying: "I - and I suspect 90 per cent of your voters - have no idea what 'non-cisgendered people' are... Are we in the same party?"
Pitt Ford replied with a link directing Coleman to the NHS's "gender dysphoria" page.
MORE MADNESS IN LONDON:
The plans for the new loos clearly show separate men's and women's signs
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL
Tory MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell said: "I cannot believe what I am reading! Divisive nonsense!"
PA
He then attracted scorn from a swathe of public figures and campaign groups - with one, Tory MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell, saying: "I cannot believe what I am reading! Divisive nonsense!"
Conservative activist group Turning Point UK joined in, writing: "You're meant to be a Conservative... You are a disgrace. Traitor."
In response to the row, gender-critical groups have slammed the Tory councillor - labelling his choice of words "bizarre" and "virtue-signalling nonsense".
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters told GB News: "When a politician starts talking about non-cisgendered people and non-binary communities, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
"When a politician starts talking about non-cisgendered people and non-binary communities, I don't know whether to laugh or cry," Fiona McAnena said
PA"It's virtue-signalling nonsense, and many people will have no idea what he's talking about.
"Everyone is either male or female. If this local councillor thinks there should be a third, gender-neutral option for public toilets, he could say so.
"It's not a bad idea, but you'd never know from this bizarre ideological language."
GB News has approached Westminster City Council and Ed Pitt Ford for comment.
