Now trans football team calls for Sunak to resign over jibe during PMQs

Now trans football team calls for Sunak to resign over jibe during PMQs

WATCH NOW: Rishi Sunak refuses to apologise to Brianna Ghey’s father

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 08/02/2024

- 13:17

Updated: 08/02/2024

- 13:55

The Prime Minister is being criticised by trans groups for comments made during PMQs on Wednesday

A trans football team has called for Rishi Sunak to resign after his jibe in a spat with Keir Starmer during PMQs on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister was commenting on Starmer's stance on trans rights vs womens rights and the mother of Brianna Ghey was in the public gallery at the time.


Brianna was murdered by two teenagers on February 11 of last year, with Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe stabbing the 16-year-old 28 times.

The killing was partly motivated by the victim's transgender identity, a judge ruled.

On Wednesday, during PMQs, Sunak hit out at Sir Keir Starmer for his stance on 'defining a woman'.

Rishi Sunak Brianna Ghey

Rishi Sunak has been branded 'absolutely pathetic' and 'disgusting' for his jibe in front of Brianna Ghey's mother

GETTY/INSTAGRAM

With Brianna's mother in attendance, which the PM was unaware of, Starmer, who was accused of politicising the debate, said to the PM: "Of all the weeks to say that when Brianna's mother is in this chamber - shame.

"Parading as a man of integrity when he's got absolutely no responsibility."

Sunak has refused to apologise for his comment which was aimed at Starmer not having a clear stance on trans rights vs womens' rights.

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.”

He added: “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.”

Trans football club TRUK United have blasted the Prime Minister for his comments.

"He just keeps attacking trans people and using trans people as a weapon," a club spokesperson told The Mirror. "We're human beings, we're part of this country, there's plenty of trans people that live in this country and for him to keep weaponising us to get cheap laughs from his conservative crew is really wrong.

"He wouldn't pick on any other demographic. It's just absolutely pathetic.

"We've suffered so much as it is as a community and lots of the community have got feelings, especially after what happened to Brianna."


The spokesperson accused Sunak of 'dehumanising' the trans community, while accusing him of repeatedly targeting them as well.

"If you've got nothing good to say, don't say anything at all," they added.

Brianna Ghey

Brianna Ghey was killed in February last year was a judge ruling her murder was partly motivated by her trans identity

TIkTok

A spokesperson for the PM has defended Sunak.

They said: “I think the PM has always been clear that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.

"And in the case of Brianna Ghey’s mother, in particular, he is paying tribute to the immense bravery she’s shown at an unimaginably difficult time.”

Downing Street also said it was 'legitimate' to question Starmer's position on transgender issues. His press secretary, per the BBC, says they 'don't accept' claims his comments were transphobic.

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