KEIR Starmer has tonight insisted he will meet with JK Rowling to thrash out trans and gender rights – saying he “respects her views”.
The Labour leader dropped the bombshell while taking questions from Sun readers and our Political Editor Harry Cole this evening.
Sir Keir was grilled by in a Never Mind the Ballots Election Showdown at The Sun’s London HQ.
You can watch the clash on thesun.co.uk, our YouTube channel and on our social media accounts.
One reader asked Sir Keir whether Labour would meet with JK Rowling to discuss trans issues.
The Harry Potter author has blasted Labour over its shifting stance on self-identification for trans people.
She added that she would “struggle to support” Labour despite previously backing the party.
But Sir Keir said: “Of course I’d meet with her. Of course I would. She’s made some really important points.
“I’d welcome that discussion, because I do think that we made huge progress on women’s rights under Labour governments.
“On equality we made massive progress. There’s more work to be done if we are privileged to come in to serve this country.
Sir Keir added: “I want to make sure that we can bring people together.”
The Labour leader agreed with our Sun cabinet health secretary that single-sex spaces for women must be protected.
He aid: “When I was chief prosecutor, I was working with very many victims of sexual violence and Domestic Violence.
“I saw for myself that women’s spaces must be protected – whether it’s single psych wards or small spaces.
Sir Keir added: “We mustn’t go down the route of self-identification.”
It comes after Rowling slammed Sir Keir Starmer and Labour – saying they’ve “dismissed women” and she’ll struggle to vote for them.
Writing in The Times, Rowling said Labour had turned its back on women.
She wrote: “As long as Labour remains dismissive and often offensive towards women fighting to retain the rights their foremothers thought were won for all time, I’ll struggle to support them.
“The women who wouldn’t wheesht didn’t leave Labour. Labour abandoned them.
“For left-leaning women like us, this isn’t, and never has been, about trans people enjoying the rights of every other citizen, and being free to present and identify however they wish.
“This is about the right of women and girls to assert their boundaries – it’s about freedom of speech and observable truth.”
KEIR Starmer won't tell you what he'll do in power because he knows you won't like it, Rishi Sunak blasted tonight.
The PM warned Brits will suffer under a Labour government while taking questions from Sun readers and our Political Editor Harry Cole.
Asked to defend his record, Rishi said: “I believe in what I’m saying, I believe in tax cuts.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve done but I am focused on the future and this election.
“We can talk about the past but the choice is – who do you want to run your country?
“Who is placed to deliver security? No-one can say what Labour will do.
“If a politician doesn’t tell you what they’ll do, it’s probably because you won’t like it.
“We’ve heard from the audience about the challenges of bills – that’s why I’m fighting hard.”
