Rishi Sunak has hit back at David Tennant after the actor said equalities minister Kemi Badenoch should “shut up”.
The Doctor Who favourite said during an LGBT event on Friday that while he “does not wish ill” of the Conservative cabinet minister, “I just wish her to shut up”.
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Ms Badenoch has fronted the Tories’ election pledge to clarify that “that sex means biological sex” in the Equalities Act – a move which could pave the way for trans women to be barred from female-only spaces.
Following Tennant’s remarks, Mr Sunak said on the X social media platform this morning: “Freedom of speech is the most powerful feature of our democracy. If you’re calling for women to shut up and wishing they didn’t exist, you are the problem.”
Ms Badenoch has already taken the actor to task over his comments, accusing him of being a “rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology” in a social media post on Tuesday.
She wrote: “I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall (the LGBTQ+ rights charity) over the safety of women and girls.
“A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end.
“Tennant is one of Labour’s celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win.”
Ms Badenoch went on to attack Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, claiming he “stood by” while Rosie Duffield, one of his candidates who has gender-critical beliefs, “was hounded”.
“He and his supporters will do the same with the country,” she said.
“Do not let the bigots and bullies win.”
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Ms Duffield, who is standing for re-election in Canterbury, has previously faced death threats over her stance on sex and gender and recently revealed she was not able to go hustings events because she does not feel safe.
The Tories have sought to make the topic a wedge issue with Labour – but they have faced accusations from LGBT groups and opposition MPs of stoking a “culture war” over trans rights.
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Badenoch on ‘clarifying’ gender and sex
The party wants to make clear in law that the protected characteristic of sex means biological sex, enabling organisations to bar transwomen from female-only spaces if they wish to, even if someone has a Gender Recognition Certificate to show they have legally changed gender.
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Tennant made his comments during a speech at the British LGBT Awards after he won a prize for being a “celebrity ally”.
He said: “If I’m honest I’m a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they’re not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention, because it’s common sense, isn’t it?
“It is human decency. We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on.
“However, until we wake up, and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more – I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this.”
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