Kemi Badenoch has said that she will not “shut up” over the rights of women after the former Doctor Who actor David Tennant said he wished she did not exist (Times).
Tennant’s comments came as he collected an accolade for being a ‘celebrity ally at the British LGBT Awards. On the British LGBT Awards website, the announcement of the winners described Tennant as “one of the LGBTQ+ community’s most fierce allies and supporters”.
In the speech that sparked the row, Tennant 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?
“However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this,” he said, before adding gallantly: “I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up.”
Badenoch, the business secretary and minister for women and equalities, has been outspoken on women’s rights and how they could be threatened by trans campaigners and has been leading the government’s efforts to strengthen the Equality Act to safeguard women’s same-sex spaces and sports against intrusion by “trans women” (biological males).
She said in response to Tennant: “I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.
“A rich, leftie, 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.” (Was it necessary for Badenoch to make this appeal to identity politics, and bring up Tennant’s race, asks a sceptical Stephen Daisley for the Spectator?)
“Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded,” Ms Badenoch continued. “He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win.”
Labour candidate Rosie Duffield announced earlier this month that she had withdrawn from hustings events because of the “constant trolling, spite and misrepresentation”, which she said was “being pursued with a new vigour during this election”.
Ms Duffield has said there should be protected spaces where those born male are not allowed to go, such as domestic violence refuges and prisons, and she is against people being able to self-identify as trans to gain access to those spaces.
She has previously faced death threats and multiple instances of abuse over her stance on sex and gender.
Rishi Sunak has also since criticised David Tennant, telling the actor: “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.”
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said: “I think in politics, as in life, it’s really important that we are able to robustly disagree with others. I wouldn’t have engaged in the way that he did. I think it’s right that we have these robust discussions, but we must do it respectfully.”
