‘Nothing, just…’: Rishi Sunak refuses to apologize for trans jibes

Rishi Sunak said his comments were “absolutely legal” in a political context. (document)

London:

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to apologize on Thursday for opposition leader Keir Starmer’s gender identity jibe, a comment that drew criticism in light of the recent widely reported murder of a transgender girl.

Sunak’s Conservatives, whose Conservatives are trailing badly in opinion polls ahead of this year’s general election, have increasingly sought to weaponize identity politics and paint Labor as overly liberal or “woke”.

On Wednesday, Sunak said the Labor leader had changed course on “defining women” during a parliamentary exchange in which Brianna Ghey, the mother of the murdered girl, was invited to watch.

Sunak’s team said the Prime Minister had been trying to explain how Labor had changed its views on major policies.

However, the political opposition immediately accused Sunak of insensitively exploiting a family tragedy. Guy’s father told Sky News he was shocked and believed Sunak should apologize.

Asked about his comments, Sunak told reporters: “I have nothing but the most heartfelt sympathy for her family and friends.

“But using this tragedy to distract from my very separate and clear point about Keir Starmer’s record of making repeated U-turns on major policies without a plan is, I think, both It’s sad and wrong and it shows politics at its worst.”

Asked a second time, he said his comments were “absolutely legal” in a political context.

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