Politician defends boss’ cervix comment in trainwreck interview

A British politician struggled through a trainwreck radio interview when she was asked a simple yes or no question.

A British Labour politician has struggled to say if she agrees with her boss’ declaration that it was wrong to say “only women have a cervix” in a trainwreck radio interview.

Ahead of this year’s party conference, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer declared it was wrong for one of his MPs, Rosie Duffield, to say that only women have a cervix.

Ms Duffield has faced criticism in the past for opposing people who were born male but self-identify as trans having access to spaces like school toilets, prisons and domestic violence refuges.

Asked during an appearance on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show whether it was “transphobic” of Ms Duffield to make such a statement, Sir Keir said “it is something that shouldn’t be said”.

“It is not right,” he added.

Keir Starmer claims that it is "not right" to say that only women have a cervix, then struggles to explain why. pic.twitter.com/3CwlCSWVRk

— Andrew Doyle (@andrewdoyle_com) September 26, 2021

“I spoke to Rosie earlier this week and told her the conference is a safe place for her to come, and it a safe place for her to come.

“We do everybody a disservice when we reduce what is a really important issue to these exchanges on particular things that are said.

“We need to have a mature, respectful debate about trans rights and we need to bear in mind that the trans community are amongst the most marginalised and abused communities, and wherever we’ve got to on the law, we need to go further.”

The Labour leader was quickly accused of a “total denial of scientific fact” by Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

Total denial of scientific fact.

And he wants to run the NHS. https://t.co/zdQjJU55r3

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) September 26, 2021

And the conversation only grew more convoluted when Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared on LBC radio, where she was asked the same question as Sir Starmer.

“Is it transphobic to say only women have a cervix?” host Nick Ferrari said.

“I just think that this issue has become so divisive and toxic,” Ms Reeves sputtered in response.

“And it pits people against each other, both groups who face discrimination in society – women and transwomen. And I just find this debate incredibly unhelpful and unproductive, to be totally honest.

“At this conference, I want to speak about issues that affect people whatever their gender and whatever their sexuality.”

Ferrari would not allow Ms Reeves to sidestep the question.

“And we will get to those, I assure you, but is it transphobic, yes or no?” he asked.

'Is it transphobic to say only women have a cervix?'

Nick Ferrari puts Labour's Rachel Reeves on the spot after Keir Starmer said it was wrong to say 'only women have a cervix'[e-mail]/g06jPP8TxH

— LBC (@LBC) September 27, 2021

After some more spluttering, she said, “Is it transphobic? Look … I just, I don’t even know how to start answering these questions. I just don’t find them, I just don’t find them helpful.”

Ferrari asked, “Well, the party leader says it is, so what do you as Shadow Chancellor say?”

Ms Reeves replied, “I think that people should be able to identify with the gender that they feel comfortable with.”

The host continued to press. “Respectfully, Shadow Chancellor, that wasn’t my question. My question – is it transphobic to say only women have a cervix?” he asked.

“I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t say that,” she said.

“Why is that?” Ferrari asked.

“Because if somebody – look, why are we having to discuss parts of women’s anatomy on radio?” Ms Reeves, clearly uncomfortable, said.

“Because one of your colleagues feels unable to attend your conference ...” Ferrari said, referring to Ms Duffield’s decision to skip this week’s event due to “threats” she has received.

“And she should feel safe attending our conference,” Ms Reeves said.

“But I don’t feel comfortable talking about women’s anatomy and different parts of women’s bodies with you, Nick, or frankly with anybody else. But if somebody identifies as a woman or a man, they should be able to do so, whatever their body parts are.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Reacting to the uncomfortable interview, British journalist Hadley Freeman tweeted that Ms Reeves “floundering” on the issue made her and the Labour Party “look incredibly inept at politics”.

Other social media users also couldn’t understand the purpose of the awkward conversation.

“Have to say I don’t know the context – but isn’t saying ‘only women [have] a cervix’ different from saying ‘only people with a cervix are women’?” tweeted one woman.

“Was the comment in relation to cervical screening? Why has this been interpreted as an attack on trans people?”

“It does pitch both groups, women and transwomen, against each other,” commented another.

“Perhaps both groups need to have words to express their different needs and situations. Perhaps it is both transphobic and misogynistic to lump them together as exactly the same thing when they aren’t.”