Rishi Sunak refuses to apologies for transgender jibe

Rishi Sunak still refuses to apologise to the family of Brianna Ghey after making a Trans joke while the murdered transgender teenager’s mother was visiting parliament.

The Prime Minister said it is “wrong” to suggest he joked about Trans people when he made a “how to define a woman” jibe at Sir Keir Starmer while calling it “sad” to drag Brianna’s family into a debate which he said was intended to be about the Labour leader’s u-turns.

However in a recent BBC Radio Somerset, Mr Sunak was confronted with calls from Peter Spooner, Brianna’s father demanding the PM apologise. Mr Spooner said he was disgusted with Mr Sunak and called his comments “degrading” and “absolutely dehumanising”.

When the host asked if he would apologise Mr Sunak said: “I’ve got nothing but heartfelt sympathy for all of Brianna’s family and friends… but as we saw yesterday it is yet another u-turn from Keir Starmer that was the point I was making.”

When challenged on whether he would continue making jokes about Trans issues in parliament, he said: “That is not what I was doing. I was pointing out a very clear track record of u-turns from Keir Starmer on many important matters of policy.”

The PM has been condemned for the jibe across the political spectrum, with Tory former minister Dehenna Davison said it was “disappointing to hear jokes being made at the trans community’s expense” while minister Penny Mordaunt urged the PM to “reflect” on his remarks.

Labour’s Jess Phillips called the prime minister “an absolute disgrace”.

Even former Prime Minister Gordon Brown weighed in, saying he had acted when he once referred to a voter as a bigot, adding: “I made mistakes… but I apologised and I think that’s a lesson that all prime ministers should follow.”