February 8, 2023 - 1:00pm
History is repeating itself fast these days. You might think that no one in their right mind would choose to walk in Nicola Sturgeon’s shoes after Scotland’s First Minister staked her reputation on a reckless and unnecessary piece of legislation — and lost. None of the arguments for her gender reform bill make sense, but she now can’t appear in public without being asked about pronouns and sexual predators, giving one stumbling performance after another as she sinks deeper into incoherence.
The message for politicians elsewhere in the UK is surely to avoid Sturgeon’s mistakes at all costs: it would take a particularly obtuse bunch to ignore them. Step forward the Welsh Government, whose LGBTQ+ Action Plan, unveiled yesterday, could hardly be more beholden to gender ideology. It’s a riot of fashionable terms, throwing around nonsense about sex being ‘assigned at birth’ and ‘ace/aro’ identities with incautious abandon. It quotes a rise in recorded hate crime against transgender people, without acknowledging a Home Office warning that it shouldn’t be interpreted as evidence of an actual increase, rather than higher rates of reporting.
But the big giveaway, the sign that Welsh ministers have learnt nothing from their Scottish counterparts, is that they’re intent on making it easier for anyone who feels like it to change legal sex. The First Minister, Welsh Labour’s Mark Drakeford, told the Senedd last month that Wales should have a self-identification system similar to the one passed in the Scottish Parliament in December.
The proposal has been blocked by the UK Government, and this week Welsh ministers confirmed that they intend to ask Westminster to hand over powers so they can make their own gender recognition law. The UK Government is highly unlikely to agree — and Welsh ministers don’t even have the excuse that they’re in coalition with a bunch of intransigent Greens. It’s actually much worse: they’re doing this of their own volition.
Yesterday a Conservative Member of the Senedd, Laura Anne Jones, made a perfectly reasonable speech about the plan. She talked about the “clear risks” posed to women and girls by self-ID, and the importance of preserving single-sex spaces. The response from Hannah Blythyn, Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, used the kind of personal abuse and unsupported accusations we heard at Holyrood in December. Blythyn described Jones’s speech as “shameful”, but she didn’t stop there. “Your words have a dangerous impact, Laura Anne Jones, it harms people, the words that you say, the discrimination that comes out of your mouth,” she said with unconcealed contempt.
‘How did we get here?’ asks the preamble to the plan. It’s a good question, although not in the way the authors intend. How did we get into a situation where two of the UK’s devolved administrations treat female politicians who stand up for other women, including lesbians and victims of male violence, as pariahs? Making it easier for men to ‘identify’ as women has no benefits for the public at large, and is open to exploitation by sexual predators, as Sturgeon is being reminded on a daily basis.
Events in Wales and Scotland are a painful example of a politics mired in prejudice, incapable of critical thinking and contemptuous of dissent. Neither Holyrood nor the Senedd is listening to voters, who don’t like or want self-ID. But then half the electorate is female — and neither the SNP nor Welsh Labour seems to like women much at all.
Joan Smith is a novelist and columnist. She has been Chair of the Mayor of London’s Violence Against Women and Girls Board since 2013. Her book Homegrown: How Domestic Violence Turns Men Into Terrorists was published in 2019.
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SubscribeIt’s not a mistake. It’s absolutely deliberate. The Scottish and Welsh administrations have both reduced the voting age to 16, and believe that younger voters lap this stuff up. They also believe that in the current climate their own core voters will never switch to the Conservatives, and have nowhere else to go. Vulnerable women in prisons or refuges can go hang as far as these ministers are concerned: they will never be in one anyway.
Labour intends to lower the voting age in England as soon as they are in power.
I’m not so sure. My nieces, one age 30 is millennial and the other a Gen Z, are totally opposed. I wonder if its because they’re not students.
The younger one decided not to go to university because she didn’t want to have to listen to that. She has a good job.
The other is planning to study technology and had chosen a campus not given over to winery.
I’m very proud of them but its sad they’re missing the kind of intellectually exciting education I had.
Both agree that paedophilia plays a role in trans activist ideology.
Labour intends to lower the voting age in England as soon as they are in power.
I’m not so sure. My nieces, one age 30 is millennial and the other a Gen Z, are totally opposed. I wonder if its because they’re not students.
The younger one decided not to go to university because she didn’t want to have to listen to that. She has a good job.
The other is planning to study technology and had chosen a campus not given over to winery.
I’m very proud of them but its sad they’re missing the kind of intellectually exciting education I had.
Both agree that paedophilia plays a role in trans activist ideology.
It’s not a mistake. It’s absolutely deliberate. The Scottish and Welsh administrations have both reduced the voting age to 16, and believe that younger voters lap this stuff up. They also believe that in the current climate their own core voters will never switch to the Conservatives, and have nowhere else to go. Vulnerable women in prisons or refuges can go hang as far as these ministers are concerned: they will never be in one anyway.
Our current generation of politicians are just not serious. They have not outgrown student union politics and are ignoring the many severe difficulties the West currently faces, preferring instead to virtue signal about pronouns.
As I write, I am listening, live, to Zelensky’s speech to the UK Parliament. The contrast between real events and imaginary micro-aggressions couldn’t be starker.
I agree, but I’m hearing this “calm down dear, it’s just such a *silly* culture war, heavens, so toxic on *both* sides isn’t it” attitude from a lot of men and I’m increasingly enraged by it. Yes, wars are far more important than someone collapsing after being misgendered. That is presumably a given. But this is a very real issue for women. Our language is being bastardised and our speech is being curtailed. Our bitterly hard-won spaces, sports, opportunities, not to mention our sex lives, are being invaded. I’m sorry there aren’t enough exciting pictures of tanks involved for men to notice all this or take it seriously but I assure you, it is happening, it is very real and it is deeply concerning.
I agree, but I’m hearing this “calm down dear, it’s just such a *silly* culture war, heavens, so toxic on *both* sides isn’t it” attitude from a lot of men and I’m increasingly enraged by it. Yes, wars are far more important than someone collapsing after being misgendered. That is presumably a given. But this is a very real issue for women. Our language is being bastardised and our speech is being curtailed. Our bitterly hard-won spaces, sports, opportunities, not to mention our sex lives, are being invaded. I’m sorry there aren’t enough exciting pictures of tanks involved for men to notice all this or take it seriously but I assure you, it is happening, it is very real and it is deeply concerning.
Our current generation of politicians are just not serious. They have not outgrown student union politics and are ignoring the many severe difficulties the West currently faces, preferring instead to virtue signal about pronouns.
As I write, I am listening, live, to Zelensky’s speech to the UK Parliament. The contrast between real events and imaginary micro-aggressions couldn’t be starker.
We need clarity in law – sex is based on biology, gender is based on culture. People can change their gender (how they present themselves to the world) but not their sex. Men should not be able to change their legal sex by obtaining a gender recognition certificate. Then there would at least be some legal protection for biological women.
I am appalled at how many women don’t seem to think this is important. I guess they have been lucky in life and can’t imagine being locked up or in a rape crisis centre with a male bodied person, whatever they call themselves. Or perhaps they just don’t care about women in less fortunate circumstances.
There must also be legal protection for anyone who refuses to publicly go along with their self-delusion, too.
Sex Matters (Maya Forstater’s organsation) is trying to create that clarity in law by asking people in the UK to sign their official petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
You can sign the petition here: https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
There must also be legal protection for anyone who refuses to publicly go along with their self-delusion, too.
Sex Matters (Maya Forstater’s organsation) is trying to create that clarity in law by asking people in the UK to sign their official petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
You can sign the petition here: https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
We need clarity in law – sex is based on biology, gender is based on culture. People can change their gender (how they present themselves to the world) but not their sex. Men should not be able to change their legal sex by obtaining a gender recognition certificate. Then there would at least be some legal protection for biological women.
I am appalled at how many women don’t seem to think this is important. I guess they have been lucky in life and can’t imagine being locked up or in a rape crisis centre with a male bodied person, whatever they call themselves. Or perhaps they just don’t care about women in less fortunate circumstances.
The Labour Party has dug itself in on this issue and now finds it cannot back away. Totally kamikaze, and in thrall to the gender activists and pressure groups they have been funding for years.
The Labour Party has dug itself in on this issue and now finds it cannot back away. Totally kamikaze, and in thrall to the gender activists and pressure groups they have been funding for years.
Anything Wales and Scotland decide to do is always in opposite reaction to England, even to their own detriment.
Anything Wales and Scotland decide to do is always in opposite reaction to England, even to their own detriment.
“Your words have a dangerous impact, Laura Anne Jones, it harms people, the words that you say, the discrimination that comes out of your mouth,” she said with unconcealed contempt.
The now popular tactic of accusing people of harm for challenging your view. If anyone uses this on you, call them what they are, hysterical and a liar. Point out exactly the tactic they are using.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scum. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scvm. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scum. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scvm. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
“Your words have a dangerous impact, Laura Anne Jones, it harms people, the words that you say, the discrimination that comes out of your mouth,” she said with unconcealed contempt.
The now popular tactic of accusing people of harm for challenging your view. If anyone uses this on you, call them what they are, hysterical and a liar. Point out exactly the tactic they are using.
I thought that such changes were beyond the scope of the Welsh assembly. Maybe it is just another case if virtue signalling knowing that nothing will come out of it.
Anyway, it does speak volumes about the quality of the people involved.
It is.
They seem to want their Section 35 moment.
Not content with throwing women under the bus, they are using Trans people to do it
It is.
They seem to want their Section 35 moment.
Not content with throwing women under the bus, they are using Trans people to do it
I thought that such changes were beyond the scope of the Welsh assembly. Maybe it is just another case if virtue signalling knowing that nothing will come out of it.
Anyway, it does speak volumes about the quality of the people involved.
We can put together well honed arguments, go in to in depth analysis etc but sometimes you just have to go straight to the nub of the issue. Too many of our elected officials are just stupid.
We can put together well honed arguments, go in to in depth analysis etc but sometimes you just have to go straight to the nub of the issue. Too many of our elected officials are just stupid.
Let the women of Wales revolt and get these idiots out at the next election.
Let the PEOPLE of Wales revolt, this is not just a women’s issue to be solved by women – again.
Let the PEOPLE of Wales revolt, this is not just a women’s issue to be solved by women – again.
Let the women of Wales revolt and get these idiots out at the next election.
I brought this to the attention of my local Assembly Member at a meeting last July regarding a video showing how children as young as four were being taught that your sex was immaterial and that you could be a boy, girl, non binary etc. Organisations such as Mermaids and Stonewall are promoting what 99.99% of the public consider to be nonsense and are receiving government grants for their poisonous propaganda. The Labour Party in Wales like the S N P in Scotland can ride rough shod over public opinion because it knows when push comes to shove its supporters will continue to vote for it come what may. The Welsh Government is deliberately picking a fight with Westminster and challenging the Secretary of State for Wales to block any GR bill coming from the Assembly. Such is the arrogance. There can be no doubt that as it seems likely there will be a Labour government at Westminster in two years time England will be saddled with similar legislation. since its leader and prospective Prime Minister seems unable to define a woman.
I brought this to the attention of my local Assembly Member at a meeting last July regarding a video showing how children as young as four were being taught that your sex was immaterial and that you could be a boy, girl, non binary etc. Organisations such as Mermaids and Stonewall are promoting what 99.99% of the public consider to be nonsense and are receiving government grants for their poisonous propaganda. The Labour Party in Wales like the S N P in Scotland can ride rough shod over public opinion because it knows when push comes to shove its supporters will continue to vote for it come what may. The Welsh Government is deliberately picking a fight with Westminster and challenging the Secretary of State for Wales to block any GR bill coming from the Assembly. Such is the arrogance. There can be no doubt that as it seems likely there will be a Labour government at Westminster in two years time England will be saddled with similar legislation. since its leader and prospective Prime Minister seems unable to define a woman.
“But then half the electorate is female”
So vote accordingly. There are a fair few men who would join in.
“But then half the electorate is female”
So vote accordingly. There are a fair few men who would join in.
“Why is Wales copying Scotland’s gender self-ID blunder?”
Inertia and momentum.
“Why is Wales copying Scotland’s gender self-ID blunder?”
Inertia and momentum.
Women’s rights are no longer sexy. They are boring and old-fashioned. Women got the right to vote about 100 years ago. Enough is enough. To defend myself, I stress that this is ‘politician-think’ not ‘me-think’. (If I believed that I would spend even longer in the shed every day.)
At the moment there is a belief in government and in the media that there are too many old people around. These oldies in Wales (maybe) always vote Labour to get back at Margaret Thatcher. What we need is to prepare the way for young people. Votes at 16, all TV programmes vetted as suitable for the under-30s, a possibility of doing anything you want and the government will support you to do it.
I would suggest another referendum, one which will please everybody except those old people. To pave the way the UK would have to rejoin the EU first. Then the referendum for ALL voters in the UK (16+ of course) – would you like the Scotland and Wales to leave the UK. I think that 75% would say ‘yes’. No more problems.
Women’s rights are no longer sexy. They are boring and old-fashioned. Women got the right to vote about 100 years ago. Enough is enough. To defend myself, I stress that this is ‘politician-think’ not ‘me-think’. (If I believed that I would spend even longer in the shed every day.)
At the moment there is a belief in government and in the media that there are too many old people around. These oldies in Wales (maybe) always vote Labour to get back at Margaret Thatcher. What we need is to prepare the way for young people. Votes at 16, all TV programmes vetted as suitable for the under-30s, a possibility of doing anything you want and the government will support you to do it.
I would suggest another referendum, one which will please everybody except those old people. To pave the way the UK would have to rejoin the EU first. Then the referendum for ALL voters in the UK (16+ of course) – would you like the Scotland and Wales to leave the UK. I think that 75% would say ‘yes’. No more problems.
Please encourage them. Flushing this nonsense into the open real world- al Scotland has exposed it for the nonsense it is.
Please encourage them. Flushing this nonsense into the open real world- al Scotland has exposed it for the nonsense it is.