Penny Mordaunt wades in on Sunak trans row as she demands PM 'reflect' on remarks
WATCH: Lindsay Hoyle is forced to intervene at PMQs amid fury at Sunak's trans remarks
Penny Mordaunt has waded in on the row that follows a series of remarks made by the Prime Minister at PMQs yesterday, suggesting he should "reflect" on his remarks.
Speaking at Business Questions in the House of Commons, she described Rishi Sunak as a "good and caring man".
This comes after the PM made a joke about Sir Keir Starmer's position on trans issues at PMQs yesterday - while the mother of Brianna Ghey was sitting in the Commons gallery.
Speaking today, the Commons Leader said: “Whatever the rough and tumble of this place, whatever the pressures and mistakes that are made in the heat of political combat, we owe it to the people who sent us here to strive every day to make them proud of us and this place.
Penny Mordaunt has waded in on the row that follows a series of remarks made by the Prime Minister at PMQs yesterday, suggesting he should "reflect" on his remarks
PA
“The Prime Minister is a good and caring man. I am sure that he has reflected on things and I understand he will say something later today, or perhaps even during this session.
“That is not just about Mr and Mrs Ghey that he should reflect on, but I am sure he is also reflecting about people who are trans, or who have trans loved ones and family, some of whom sit on these green benches.
“I hope the leader of the Opposition will also reflect on his actions too.”
Sunak has faced criticism for yesterday's remarks, which saw him accuse the Labour leader of U-turning on "defining a woman", joking: "Although in fairness, that was only 99 per cent of a U-turn".
A furious Starmer responded: "Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna [Ghey]'s mother is in this chamber. Shame. Parading as a man of integrity, when he's got absolutely no responsibility."
Brianna Ghey's mother Esther attended PMQs yesterday, a year on from the murder of her daughter.
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Speaking to broadcasters today, the PM declined to apologise for the comment.
He insisted his comments were “absolutely legitimate” because he was pointing out Sir Keir Starmer’s U-turns.
Asked if he would apologise, he told reporters in Cornwall: “If you look at what I said, I was very clear, talking about Keir Starmer’s proven track record of U-turns on major policies because he doesn’t have a plan.
“A point only proven by today’s reports that the Labour Party and Keir Starmer are apparently planning to reverse on their signature economic green spending policy.
“That just demonstrates the point I was making. He’s someone who has just consistently changed his mind on a whole range of major things.
“I think that is an absolutely legitimate thing to point out and it demonstrates that he doesn’t have a plan for the country.”
Sunak said it was “sad and wrong” to link his comments to Brianna Ghey’s case.
He said: “Like everyone, I was completely shocked by Brianna’s case. To have your child taken from you in such awful circumstances is almost impossible to come to terms with, and for Brianna’s mum to talk with such empathy and compassion about that, I thought, was inspiring and it showed the very best of humanity.
“I’ve nothing but the most heartfelt sympathy for her entire family and friends.
“But to use that tragedy to detract from the very separate and clear point I was making about Keir Starmer’s proven track record of multiple U-turns on major policies, because he doesn’t have a plan, I think is both sad and wrong, and it demonstrates the worst of politics.”
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