PMQs: Sunak attacks Starmer’s ‘record on women’

Given that women make up about 50 percent of the electorate, it is generally a good idea for political leaders to know what a woman is. But previously Sir Keir Starmer has struggled on this issue and today in PMQs Rishi Sunak mercilessly skewered the Leader of the Opposition on the issue.

No doubt the Prime Minister was inspired by the Daily Express’s support for Conservative MP Miriam Cates and Labour’s Rosie Duffield who have been pushing through our newspaper and website for proper protection for women.

In a world where the trans debate has taken a grip and seen attempts to legally allow male rapists who reidentified as women into female prisons or the undermining of female sport and safe places this is very much a live issue.

Ms Duffield has been subject to appalling abuse within her own party over her stance on the issue similar to what other campaigners like the author J.K. Rowling have suffered.

In PMQs the issue was teed up nicely by veteran Conservative backbencher Tim Loughton: “Given what the leader of the Opposition apparently doesn’t know what a woman is, that he won’t stand up to defend women in his own party…and according to his oown front bench, failed to prosecute rapists when he was in charge of the DPP, does my right honourable friend think the Labour Party are in any position to teach anybody about respect for women?”

The Prime Minister was only too happy to grab the opportunity to attack his rival.

“My honourable friend is absolutely right. The Leader of the Opposition’s record on women is questionable at best.

“Before Labour start preaching about this issue, they should work ut the answer to one very simple question – I am certain what a woman is, is he?”

He pointed at Sir Keir as he prepared to get to his feet but was not at all happy to answer the question or refer to the issue.

The Labour leader had struggled to define a woman in interviews and the issue continues to dog him.

The exchanges showed that while the traditional money in people’s pockets will play a big role in the next election, it is clear that the so-called culture wars are looming large too.

And if we needed any further evidence, the Prime Minister was later tackled by a Labour MP on demands to apologise for Britain’s role in slavery.

“I don’t think we should unpick our history,” he said.

There are many reasons why rows over woke issues such as the trans debate or race are being grabbed by our politicians.

But chief among those may be that in terms of economics, the political parties are as close as they have been for decades.

After all, Starmer went on the attack on the Tories “24 tax rises”.

Sunak’s response was to boast about how the Conservatives have boosted the minimum wage, universal credit and pensions.

When Labour wants tax cuts and the Tories are proud of spending more, you know the world has turned upside down.

But the reality is that it shows that economically there is barely anything to tell the apart.

No wonder the culture wars which have become so toxic in the US are now finding their way as the main point of differentiation in UK politics too.

There will be more on woke, trans, race and migration as we draw nearer to a probable general election in Autumn next year.

It may be by then that Starmer may have worked out what a woman is.

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