Kemi Badenoch challenges Keir Starmer’s shifting stance on gender identity during fiery exchanges at Westminster

At the first Prime Minister’s Questions since the Easter break, things got intense in Parliament as the topic of gender identity returned to the spotlight.

Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, found himself in the hot seat over past comments where he said “trans women are women.”

Despite the mounting pressure, he didn’t backtrack from that position—sparking a fierce exchange, particularly with Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch.

Badenoch didn’t hold back.

She accused Starmer of lacking the “moral courage” to be honest about his beliefs and even claimed he didn’t “have the balls” to speak the truth publicly.

She also demanded an apology for Rosie Duffield, a women’s rights advocate and former Labour MP, who she says was pushed out of the party for standing by her beliefs.

A Shift in Legal Clarity on Gender and Rights

This heated discussion came just after a landmark Supreme Court ruling that made an important legal distinction: for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, a woman is defined by her biological sex.

That means even trans women with gender recognition certificates can be lawfully excluded from certain single-sex spaces if there’s a proportionate reason to do so.

The ruling has triggered a wave of reactions across the political spectrum.

Starmer acknowledged it, saying it brings much-needed clarity and could give reassurance to both women and service providers.

He emphasized that his government will support the judgment and uphold protections for single-sex spaces, while still respecting the rights of trans people.

Starmer’s Evolving Stance on Gender

Starmer’s position on gender identity has shifted over time.

Back in 2022, he made headlines for saying “trans women are women” and dismissed the idea that only women have a cervix.

By April 2023, he walked that back slightly, saying 99.9% of women don’t have a penis—implying a very small number might.

That sparked even more controversy.

Later that year, he echoed Tony Blair’s sentiment that biological sex defines whether someone is male or female.

And in April 2024, he acknowledged that Rosie Duffield was correct when she said only women have a cervix.

“Biologically, she is right,” he told ITV.

So while he still insists on treating trans people with respect, his tone and phrasing have noticeably changed.

Cabinet Voices Speak Out

Interestingly, not everyone in Starmer’s party is entirely on the same page.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting offered a more direct statement, saying: “Trans women are not the same as biological women.”

He emphasized the importance of recognizing those differences, especially in healthcare settings.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also admitted she previously misunderstood how the law applied.

She now supports the ruling and said it brings clarity to how services should be offered moving forward.

Badenoch Calls for Accountability

Kemi Badenoch continued her assault, accusing Starmer of “cheering an ideology” that, in her view, compromised women’s safety and dignity.

She said he only shifted his views after the court ruling because it was politically convenient—not because he believed it.

To her, it showed a lack of backbone.

Rosie Duffield, now sitting as an independent MP, watched all this unfold in the Commons.

She later criticized Starmer for lacking real leadership, saying he reacts to events rather than leads with vision.

The Wider Reaction

Even cultural figures like J.K. Rowling weighed in, criticizing Starmer for staying silent until the court “told him what the truth is.”

Meanwhile, the debate around gender continues to spark division—not just in politics, but in society at large.

Starmer, for his part, tried to cool tensions, urging everyone to approach the topic with “dignity, respect, and compassion.”

He stressed that he doesn’t want to turn gender identity into a political football and hopes the debate can move forward more constructively.

What’s Next?

With the Supreme Court ruling now part of the legal landscape, service providers across the UK will have to adjust.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is expected to release new guidelines soon.

Meanwhile, the political debate is far from over.

The question remains: Can leaders find common ground on such a deeply personal and polarizing issue?

And as the dust settles, one thing’s clear—this isn’t just about policy.

It’s about values, leadership, and how society defines identity in a changing world.