JK Rowling has dubbed past comments made by Anneliese Dodds on gender as "nonsensical" after she was announced as women and equalities minister.
After Dodds was appointed to the role, Rowling tweeted part of a transcript from an interview Ms Dodds had done on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour in 2022.
When asked for Labour’s definition of a woman, the transcript showed, Dodds said there are “different definitions legally around what a woman actually is”.
When pressed again, she said: “I think it does depend what the context is.”
JK Rowling has dubbed past comments made by Anneliese Dodds on gender as "nonsensical" after she was announced as women and equalities minister
PA
Rowling tweeted: “And if you happen to be wondering how I have the transcript of that Woman’s Hour to hand, it was sent to me by Dodds’ office after I publicly criticised her prevarication on the programme.
"They seemed to think I’d find her comments less nonsensical if I saw them in print."
Last October, speaking at Labour’s National Annual Women’s Conference, Dodds said a Labour win in the election would see her "become the UK’s first ever Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, with a seat at the top table, dedicated to advocating for women in all their diversity in every Cabinet conversation".
In her time as shadow women and equalities secretary, the MP for Oxford East also affirmed Labour’s commitment to “trans people and women”, as well as criticising the demonisation of vulnerable people.
Last year she said Labour is "committed to modernising the Gender Recognition Act".
In an article for The Guardian, she added: "Changing gender is not a decision anyone makes lightly.
"The process is intrusive, outdated and humiliating.
"So we will modernise, simplify and reform the gender recognition law to a new process. We will remove invasive bureaucracy and simplify the process."
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The Harry Potter author has previously accused Labour of having “abandoned” her and others campaigning for women’s rights.
Rowling is a fierce advocate for the rights of biological women after criticising Scottish Government proposals to introduce self-identification for transgender people.
