Emily Thornberry says Keir Starmer ‘in the wrong place’ on trans rights

Senior Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry has warned that Sir Keir Starmer has “ended up in the wrong place” on trans rights, arguing that the party has drifted away from its values and failed to stand up for one of society’s most vulnerable groups. Her comments, made on the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast, signal growing unease within Labour ranks over the Prime Minister’s shifting stance on trans equality. 

Thornberry, once Starmer’s shadow attorney general, said Labour had stopped “following our hearts” on trans rights, instead allowing itself to be pushed towards a more socially conservative position by senior advisers. She singled out former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who left Downing Street last month, for steering the party into territory that “didn’t come naturally” to Labour MPs.

In a strongly worded defence of trans people, Thornberry stressed that they remain “on the margins” and are “vulnerable”, arguing that Labour has a moral duty to protect them. “If the Labour Party doesn’t look after trans people, what are we about?” she asked, highlighting increasing prejudice and physical danger faced by trans communities. 

Her remarks reflect growing frustration among Labour MPs who believe the party’s leadership has retreated from its earlier commitments to trans equality. While Labour once pledged to introduce a system of gender self‑identification, the policy was dropped in 2023 after political pressure and controversy surrounding Scotland’s attempted reforms. 

Starmer himself has shifted position markedly. After once stating that “trans women are women”, he reversed course last year, aligning his stance with the Supreme Court’s definition of womanhood as “adult female” - a ruling that has already prompted significant concerns among LGBTQ+ groups about its implications for access to services, safety and dignity. 

Thornberry’s intervention also comes amid broader criticism of Starmer’s handling of trans rights. Labour has faced backlash over decisions such as banning trans women from attending the party’s women’s conference following the Supreme Court’s judgment on biological sex. Activists say this reinforces stigma and risks legitimising discriminatory behaviour. 

Meanwhile, frontline MPs are reporting rising anxiety among trans constituents. Thornberry previously highlighted a surge in calls to LGBTQ+ helplines from people frightened about the direction of policy and public discourse. Other Labour MPs, such as Nadia Whittome and Dawn Butler, have raised concerns about the consequences for gender‑non‑conforming people - including butch lesbians - who are increasingly being harassed in public spaces under the guise of “protecting” single‑sex areas.