Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing backlash for refusing to apologise for failing to defend Rosie Duffield, the former Labour backbencher who faced death threats for her gender-critical beliefs.
The Canterbury MP resigned from the party last September after being widely accused within her own ranks of “transphobia”.
She previously likened working under Sir Keir to being in an “abusive relationship” and claimed he has a “problem with women”.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch questioned Sir Keir for “hiding behind” the Supreme Court’s ruling last week that “sex” refers to “biological sex” in equality law.
Her attack came a day after Sir Keir said he no longer believes transgender women are women, in the wake of the landmark decision by Britain’s top judges.
Oh dear. After almost 8 years, you do forget the cameras sometimes...! 😳 https://t.co/gDiINVmgC0
— Rosie Duffield MP (@RosieDuffield1) April 23, 2025
The Conservative leader also accused the PM of “hounding (Ms Duffield) out of the Labour Party for telling the truth”.
When Ms Badenoch asked Sir Keir whether he would say sorry to the “very brave member for Canterbury”, Sir Keir replied: “I’ve always approached this on the basis that we should treat everyone with dignity and respect.”
The Labour leader added: “I do think that this is the time to lower the temperature, to move forward, and to conduct this debate with the care and compassion that it deserves,”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp later posted on X: “Breathtaking hypocrisy from the man who hounded Rosie Duffield out of the Labour Party on this issue.
“Starmer should apologise to her and the public.”
Instead of handing an olive branch to Ms Duffield, Sir Keir attacked Ms Badenoch for using the topic as a “political football”.
He said her predecessor Rishi Sunak “diminished” himself after making a joke about Sir Keir’s definition of a woman when Esther Ghey — the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey — was in Parliament.
Sir Keir added: “My approach will be to support the ruling to protect single-sex spaces and treat everybody with dignity and respect, and I believe there's a consensus in this house and the country for that approach.”
He talks about political football, he practically kicked Rosie Duffield out of his party
But Ms Badenoch responded: “There is no apology for the member for Canterbury, there is no taking of responsibility.
“He talks about political football, he practically kicked her out of his party.”
Ms Duffield told LBC Radio that Sir Keir’s U-turn on transgenderism showed he was a “manager rather than a leader”.
Meanwhile, the PM’s official spokesman would not be drawn into saying whether he should say sorry to Ms Duffield.
“The PM has welcomed the court judgment as a welcome step forward in providing clarity in this area,” he said when asked about an apology.
“He does want this debate to be conducted with care and compassion, for everyone to be treated with dignity and respect.”
