The father of Brianna Ghey has called on Rishi Sunak to apologise for his “degrading” transgender jibe during PMQs.
In an attack at Prime Minister’s Questions aimed at Labour policy u-turns, Mr Sunak accused Sir Keir Starmer of having difficulty in “defining a woman”.
Brianna Ghey’s mother was in attendance at the House of Commons for the weekly showdown.
The remarks prompted an immediate backlash, but Downing Street doubled down on the comments and insisted the joke was not transphobic.
Speaking to Sky News, Peter Spooner said Mr Sunak's remarks were "degrading" and "absolutely dehumanising".
He also said: "Identities of people should not be used in that manner, and I personally feel shocked by his comments."
Mr Starmer, who Wednesday afternoon met with Brianna’s mother Esther Ghey later, condemned the Prime Minister’s remark with a chorus of opposition backbenchers calling out “shame”.
Number 10 declined repeatedly to apologise for Mr Sunak’s language and said it was part of a “legitimate” criticism of Labour.
Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: “If you look back on what the Prime Minister was saying, there was a long list of u-turns that the leader of the opposition had been making.
“I don’t think those u-turns are a joke, it is quite serious changes in public policy. I think it is totally legitimate for the Prime Minister to point those out.”
“It is clearly part of what happens in the chamber, at prime minister’s questions, to point out the u-turns an opposition leader has made,” she added.
The Labour leader immediately rebuked Mr Sunak for the joke.
“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.”
Brianna was murdered by teenagers Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe who stabbed her to death in a Cheshire park last February.
More to follow.
