Exclusive

Kemi Badenoch calls for public inquiry following Cass review as she says some are 'exploiting' trans label

16 April 2024, 21:13 | Updated: 17 April 2024, 02:26

Kemi Badenoch calls for an inquiry into public institutional policy

By Emma Soteriou

Kemi Badenoch has called for a public inquiry following the Cass review as she said some people are 'exploiting' the transgender label.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Minister for Women and Equalities said it was "extraordinary" that some clinics had refused to cooperate and hand over data for the Cass review.

She said that beforehand many things were "taken as a given" with policies being made without evidence.

The final report said children had been let down by the lack of research, especially due to the "exceptional" toxicity of the debate.

Speaking to LBC's Iain Dale, Ms Badenoch said: "I personally think we need some kind of inquiry into how public inquisition are creating policy and getting their evidence..."

"It is extraordinary that there would be such a serious review and some clinics would not cooperate.

"That shows that people are taking, whether it is the law or policy, into their own hands.

"This is taxpayer funded medical services, it should be the government and leadership within the NHS, underpinned by government policy, that decides what treatment people get."

Read more: 'Road to hell is paved with good intentions': Kemi Badenoch criticises own government's smoking ban after key vote

Read more: 'Clumsy' diversity efforts are 'ineffective and counterproductive,' Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch claims

Kemi Badenoch on people 'pretending to be trans'

It came after Ms Badenoch said she believed some people were "exploiting" the transgender label.

"We want trans people to be able to live their lives freely and it is where we believe there are concerns around self-identification where anyone can pretend to be trans," she said.

"There are many people who are exploiting the label trans to do things that have got nothing to do with those people who have a protected characteristic of gender reassignment or gender dysphoria.

"And that's one of the things that we have been looking at - how can we provide protections for both trans people but also many of those people who are impacted by those who choose to exploit the policy, in particular women, when it comes to single sex spaces and so on."

When asked about the conversion therapy bill, Ms Badenoch denied blocking it, saying people just had "different visions" for it.

"The Cass review is going to have implications for what we do around conversion practices," she said.

"It again highlights one of the challenges we have had because the straight forward bit is on the L,G and B side of it and the difficult bit is around the T - where we define fluidity and where conversion start and stops.

"It is how to make sure that we have a bill that gives space for clinicians to do the right thing.

"We are still working on the draft bill - I am actively working on it."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Suspended chief constable Nick Adderley

Disgraced police chief Nick Adderley slammed for ‘unacceptable’ role in Harry Dunn case

Grenfell tower cover in white tarpaulin

Government pressed over why Grenfell cladding ‘crooks’ not behind bars

Donald Trump is said to be considering joining Israel in striking Iran

Trump 'considering US strike on Iran' - hours after claiming to know supreme leader's location

The biggest lottery prize the UK has seen could still be won after Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw had no winners.

EuroMillions record £208 million jackpot won by single ticket holder

Referee David Coote has been sacked.

Sacked Premier League referee David Coote charged by FA over ‘German c***’ Jurgen Klopp comments

Exclusive
Relatives of the Palestinians killed in Israeli attack, mourn as they carry the bodies to Nasser hospital for funeral procedures in Khan Yunis

Israeli Ambassador denies IDF is 'targeting civilians' as medics say 59 Palestinians killed by IDF at aid distribution centre

The man given a restraining order for stalking British number one Emma Raducanu has been caught trying to obtain tickets for this summer’s Wimbledon.

Emma Raducanu stalker caught trying to obtain Wimbledon tickets after tennis star was left 'shaken' by 'fixated' man

Eight-month-old Mabli had just said a final goodbye to her paternal grandmother Betty Hall, who was receiving end-of-life care at the Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.

Driver who ran over and killed eight-month-old baby in pram has sentence cut

Exclusive
UK 'not going to be involved' in 'protecting' Israel during Iran conflict, Israeli ambassador confirms

UK 'not going to be involved' in 'protecting' Israel during Iran conflict, Israeli ambassador tells LBC

Abortion rights actvists gather outside the parliament in support of decriminalisation.

MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in historic Commons vote

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is placed under arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and FBI agents outside federal immigration court on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in New York.

New York mayoral candidate Brad Lander arrested and detained by ICE amid Donald Trump's immigration crackdown

Trump not planning to attack Iran, Starmer insists as US President says he won't kill Supreme Leader 'for now'

Trump 'not planning to attack Iran', Starmer insists as US President says he won't kill Supreme Leader 'for now'

Dame Katherine Grainger

Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger and former Cabinet Secretary Simon Case given peerages

Matheus Cunha signs his Manchester United contract

When does the summer 2025 transfer window open and close?

Iranian soldiers in Tehran. The country has one of the strongest armies in the Middle East

Does Iran have nuclear weapons and what is its military capability?

UK's first women-only tower block to open in west London next summer.

UK's first women-only tower block to open in west London next summer providing 'lifeline' to domestic abuse survivors