WES Streeting has looked to explain his move to keep the puberty blocker ban put in place by his Tory predecessor amid a split in his party.
The Health Secretary took to Twitter/X and said children’s healthcare “must always be lead with evidence”.
He added that the Cass Review – which “obscures key findings, misrepresents its own data, and is rife with misapplications of the scientific method” according to a recent review by the prestigious Yale University – found there is “not enough evidence about the long-term impact of puberty blockers” and that this should have been established “before they were ever prescribed”.
He added: “We don’t yet know the risks of stopping pubertal hormones at this critical life stage. That is the basis upon which I am making decisions. I am treading cautiously in this area because the safety of children must come first.”
It comes after the High Court was told on Friday that it may be made permanent by new Labour ministers, despite the emergency ban being implemented by the previous Conservative government.
In an email on Friday morning after instructions from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), lawyers from the Government Legal Department said: “The Government supports implementation of the Cass Review and, subject to the outcome of these proceedings, is minded to renew the emergency banning order with a view to converting it to a permanent ban, subject to appropriate consultation.
“The Government is committed to providing young people with holistic care, in line with the recommendations of the Cass Review.”
The move has led to a split in the party already, with several high-profile MPs hitting out.
Labour MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasey said: “Cass review recommended caution, not exclusion, for any treatment and drew attention to shortcomings of previous GIDs service. To those asking will always be MP who listens to demand for better research & evidence base for help for those with gender dysphoria, not abandons them.
Another Labour MP, Nadia Whittome added: “I know the distress the puberty blockers ban is causing… No matter what happens in court, I will continue fighting for the government to scrap it.”
Labour MP Zarah Sultana, meanwhile, also said: “Young people – cis and trans – must have access to healthcare they need. I’ll always stand with the trans community.”
