A senior Labor MP has been accused of 'toxic', 'evil' and 'hateful' transphobia – simply for daring to speak out in favor of women's rights.
Tonia Antoniazzi, an opposition whip, posted on social media the statement: “It is not yours to give away female single-sex spaces.”
It sparked a huge backlash from many within her party, including councilors and local branch officials, who accused her of being anti-transgender.
But others said her comment should not be seen as controversial and pointed out that Labour's own official policy is to support single-sex spaces.
Ms Antoniazzi, MP for Gower in Wales since 2017, was defended by fellow Labor MP Rosie Duffield, who was also accused of anti-trans hate and shouted down by her own side in the House of Commons.
“In case there is any doubt, I stand with Tonia, my good friend and strong feminist sister,” Ms. Duffield wrote on Twitter/X.
'And for the record, Tonia is a current Labor whip and former shadow minister, who rightly understands and expresses the views of most people who vote in Britain.'
And Helen Joyce, from campaign group Sex Matters, said: 'The response from young Labor activists to a sitting MP simply stating Labour's policies on women's rights and gender differences shows the extent to which extremist trans ideology has spread within the party has anchored.'
Tonia Antoniazzi, an opposition whip, posted on social media the statement: 'It is not yours to give away female single-sex spaces'
She called on party leader Sir Keir Starmer to defend his under-fire colleague. “He must state publicly and unequivocally that the Labor leadership agrees with Ms Antoniazzi: gender spaces are crucial to women's rights and are non-negotiable.”
The row illustrates the difficult task ahead for Sir Keir in tackling divisive gender ideology.
Last year [2023] he abandoned the policy of allowing anyone to “identify” as the opposite sex and returned after being ridiculed for saying some women have a penis.
But many Labor activists, including some MPs and members of his shadow cabinet, want him to speak out more in favor of trans rights.
One of the most vocal critics of Ms Antoniazzi's post was councilor Meg Birchall, who said: 'Transphobes are not fit to be MPs. If you can't stand up for the rights of your vulnerable constituents as a result of online radicalization, what will you stand up for?
“Intolerance never wins in the end and history will regard all MPs who spout this hateful rhetoric as nothing short of evil.”
Councilor Erin Hall said, “This is never okay. I am devastated that this party has created an environment where posting deliberately inflammatory transphobia is okay and goes without consequences. If you cannot bring yourself to stand up for trans constituents, then you are not fit to be an MP.”
One of the most vocal critics of Ms Antoniazzi's post was councilor Meg Birchall, who said: 'Transphobes are not fit to be MPs'
Jake Swinburne, communications officer for the Lincoln Constituency Labor Party (CLP), said: 'No Labor MP should ever post such toxic bile, we must hold ourselves to the same standards we would hold Tory MPs to, solidarity with our trans -brothers and sisters. .
“Those who advocate dog-whistle politics are either genuinely brainwashed or are deliberately acting in bad faith. Either way, you can't call yourself a true progressive. You are deliberately leaving a mark on one of the most vulnerable minorities in Britain.”
Jack Bellingham, treasurer of Selby CLP, said: “MPs continue to promote this harmful rhetoric about trans people without any repercussions. Our party cannot be a place for this hatred, and the leadership must take action against it.”