Rishi Sunak's trans jibe provokes condemnation
Father of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey said Sunak's remarks were 'absolutely dehumanising'

Rishi Sunak has been widely condemned for making a jibe about Keir Starmer's position on trans issues while the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey was in the House of Commons.
The prime minister was heckled with cries of "shame" and "disgusting" when he accused Keir Starmer of repeatedly changing his position on things, including "defining a woman". Starmer replied: "Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna's mother is in this chamber. Shame."
Whether driven by "callousness or clumsiness", Sunak's trans jibe is his "new normal", said The Guardian. Whatever motivated the remark on the day Esther Ghey visited Parliament, "as an election looms, we can expect much more of the same", it added.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Brianna's father, Peter Spooner, has demanded an apology, calling Sunak's words "absolutely dehumanising", said Sky News. For now, No. 10 is refusing to back down, saying the PM's comments were part of a "legitimate" criticism of Labour.
Writing on social media, the minister for women and equalities, Kemi Badenoch, said it was "shameful" of Starmer "to link his own inability to be clear on the matter of sex and gender" to Ghey's grief. She added that "every murder is a tragedy" and "none should be trivialised by political point-scoring".
Ghey was in the Houses of Parliament to attend a debate on mindfulness in schools, organised by her MP, Charlotte Nichols. She also met Starmer after Prime Minister's Questions.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 29, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - my way or Norway, running orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 tactically sound cartoons about the leaked Signal chat
Cartoons Artists take on the clown signal, baby steps, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Roast lamb shoulder with ginger and fresh turmeric recipe
The Week Recommends Succulent and tender and falls off the bone with ease
By The Week UK Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk set to earn billions from Trump administration
Speed Read Musk's company SpaceX will receive billions in federal government contracts in the coming years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published