'So which lavatory would they actually use?': Nick Ferrari presses shadow minister on trans women and public toilets

27 June 2024, 11:36

Nick Ferrari pressed Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson regarding trans women and bathrooms.
Nick Ferrari pressed Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson regarding trans women and bathrooms. Picture: LBC/Getty

By Katy Ronkin

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson refused to say if a "trans woman with a penis" should be able to use the lady's toilets when pressed multiple times by Nick Ferrari.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Shadow Education Secretary was asked by LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast to clarify her stance regarding whether trans women should be able to use women's bathrooms.

Phillipson initially emphasized the importance of single-sex spaces, stating, "I believe that single sex spaces are important... My background before I became a politician was managing a women's refuge.

"So I understand how important it is that women have access to single sex spaces, have that safety, that dignity, that opportunity to speak openly about traumatic events in their lives."

Watch Again: Nick Ferrari speaks to Bridget Phillipson | 27/06

However, when Ferrari presented a specific scenario about a trans woman needing to use a public toilets, Phillipson's responses became less direct.

Ferrari asked: "The trans woman with a penis would use which lavatory?"

Phillipson repeatedly suggested that businesses should provide "a range of different options," even when Ferrari specified that the hypothetical restaurant only had two options – male and female toilets.

As Ferrari pressed for a specific answer, asking multiple times which door the trans woman should use, Phillipson continued to emphasize the need for "common sense solutions" and "being practical."

Read more: Sunak wades into trans row between Kemi Badenoch and David Tennant after Dr Who star told minister to 'shut up'

Read more: JK Rowling 'struggling to support' Labour over Sir Keir's stance on transgender rights that's 'abandoning' women

Ms Phillipson avoided answering regarding which bathroom a trans woman should use.
Ms Phillipson avoided answering regarding which bathroom a trans woman should use. Picture: Getty

She stated, "I wouldn't want that person to feel at risk equally. I wouldn't want biological women to feel intimidated."

Ferrari pointed out an apparent contradiction, saying, "But you seem to have checked earlier this week you said she should use the female toilet, didn't you?"

Phillipson didn't directly address this, instead saying, "Look, these are, these, I want to make sure that everyone, where it comes to this discussion, that we do, we have this discussion in a way that is respectful and seeks to find common ground."

Political journalist calls out Kemi Badenoch over 'inflammatory comments'

This comes as JK Rowling has said she will "struggle to support" Labour if Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t change his current stance on the rights of transgender people.

Writing in The Times, the Harry Potter author, who has often been outspoken in her views on gender recognition, expressed her dissatisfaction with the Labour party’s approach to the matter.

Rowling criticised Sir Keir along with several members of his shadow cabinet for ​“abandoning” women and being “dismissive and often offensive” approach to their concerns.

Labour said it was "the party of women’s equality, with a manifesto that puts women front and centre".

K Rowling has said she will "struggle to support" Labour if Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t change his current stance on the rights of transgender people
JK Rowling has said she will "struggle to support" Labour if Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t change his current stance on the rights of transgender people. Picture: Alamy

Asked if she is concerned about losing trust over a "muddled stance," Phillipson responded, "I have a huge amount of respect for JK Rowling, not least in the work that she's done around campaigning for women, you know, around domestic violence, around rape crisis services and making sure that all women in our communities feel safe."

She added, "We will work every day to persuade voters who are not voting Labour that we can earn their trust once more."

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