Keir Starmer’s trans hate crime laws ‘would hit UK’s freedom of speech’, MPs insist
FREEDOM of speech is under threat from trans activists, MPs insist.
As Labour vows to toughen hate crime laws, politicians fear critics may be cancelled.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party wants to treat every trans hate crime as an “aggravated offence”.
Labour has vowed to impose “tougher sentences for those who commit hate crimes targeted at someone’s sexual identity, transgender identity or disability”.
Free speech campaigners say this could lead to prosecutions just for misgendering someone.
A report by the Institute of Economic Affairs argues debates on self-ID, female-only spaces and single-sex sports are already being shut down by influential activists.
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And police spend time probing people who express gender critical views rather than yobs wreaking havoc on the streets.
Tory MP Nick Fletcher said gender ideologues are “on a quest to grasp and utilise social power” and are “succeeding”.
He added: “We all need to help defend society’s most important values against ideological attack.”
Meanwhile guidance on school gender issues will be published “as soon as possible”, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told LBC.
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It’s understood separate girls’ and boys’ loos will be protected under non-statutory guidelines.
A Labour source said of free speech claims: “This is nonsense.”