Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to apologise to Rosie Duffield during a heated exchange during Prime Minister's Questions.
Following the Supreme Court ruling on biological women, Badenoch questioned Starmer on whether he would offer an apology to Duffield - who resigned from the Labour Party after she was heavily criticised for her gender critical views.
Addressing the issue in the House of Commons, Badenoch told Starmer: "He can't bring himself to admit he was wrong. But he spoke about respect and dignity, and compassion - so will he now apologise to the member for Canterbury?
"The very brave member for Canterbury, for hounding her out of the Labour Party simply for telling the truth."
Kemi Badenoch called on Sir Keir Starmer to apologise to former MP Rosie Duffield
Parliament TV
Duffield awkwardly watched on from the backbench as Starmer offered a response to Badenoch: "I’ve always approached this on the basis that we should treat everyone with dignity and respect, whatever their different views, and I’ll continue to do so.
"And I’ll tell you Mr Speaker for why because when we lose sight of that approach [we] make this a political football."
The house erupted as Badenoch hit back at the Prime Minister, calling again for an apology for Duffield.
Badenoch stressed: "Mr Speaker, there was no apology for the member for Canterbury. There is no taking of responsibility.
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Badenoch called on Starmer to apologise after 'kicking her out' of the party
Parliament TV
"He talks about political footballs - he practically kicked her out of his party. Constructive dismissal. He talks about my predecessor, what about the abuse I faced from his MPs - calling me a transphobe for supporting what the Supreme Court has now clarified?"
In another pointed attack on the Prime Minister's initial silence on the Supreme Court ruling, she added: "And where was he?
"He hid for six days without commenting on the Supreme Court judgement. Why did it take him so long to respond? Isn't it because he was scared?"
Shutting down Badenoch's claim, Starmer affirmed: "The only fiction here is the idea she delivered anything in office.
Starmer told the House that Badenoch is a 'spectator, not a leader'
Parliament TV
"She held the post of Minister for Women and Equalities for two years, and she did precisely nothing. She provided no clarity on the law, did nothing to improve women's lives, which got worse under her watch."
He added: "They talk about hospitals and mixed-sex wards - what happened in the last decade? The use of mixed-sex wards in our NHS rose by 2000 per cent. And there is a pattern of behaviour here.
"The Minister for Women and Equalities failed to do anything for women - she's a spectator, not a leader."
