Kemi Badenoch’s intervention to defend Rishi Sunak occurred after a contentious Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session where Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism from Mr. Sunak for allegedly failing to uphold the promises he made during his election campaign. The exchange between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition featured a series of verbal jabs, with Mr. Sunak enumerating a range of policy areas where he claimed Sir Keir had fallen short. These areas included pensions, planning, peerages, public sector pay, tuition fees, childcare, second referendums, and the definition of gender.
Sir Keir Starmer responded to the accusations by acknowledging the extent of a U-turn, suggesting it was only 99 percent of one. He continued to criticize the government, alleging a pattern of empty rhetoric, unfulfilled promises, and lack of coherent planning across various policy areas. During the exchange, Sir Keir expressed visible anger and stood up to rebuke Rishi Sunak for making a transphobic remark, particularly noting the presence of Brianna Ghey’s mother in the public gallery. This reaction underscored the seriousness of the comment and its impact on individuals directly affected by such derogatory language.
Kemi Badenoch defended Rishi Sunak against criticism stemming from the transphobic remark, labeling Keir Starmer’s response as “shameful” for attempting to capitalize on the moment. Despite this defense, Sunak faced widespread condemnation from figures on the left, including Labour MP Jess Phillips, who called him a “disgrace” and advocated for his removal from office. Hard-left MP Nadia Whittome also characterized the transphobic comment as “absolutely sickening.”
Kemi Badenoch, the Equalities Secretary, criticized Keir Starmer’s attempt to link Rishi Sunak’s remark to the grief of Esther Ghey, the mother of a murdered trans teen. Badenoch described Starmer’s actions as shameful, stating that every murder is a tragedy and should not be trivialized for political gain. She emphasized her efforts to promote constructive dialogue on LGBT issues while maintaining clarity about beliefs and principles as Minister for Women and Equalities.
The individuals defending Rishi Sunak’s remarks argued that Keir Starmer’s reaction demonstrated Labour’s willingness to exploit sensitive issues for political gain. They emphasized that the Prime Minister’s remarks highlighted a series of serious policy changes and U-turns made by the Leader of the Opposition, which they considered legitimate to point out. They reiterated that the context of the discussion was the significant policy shifts rather than making light of a tragic event.