The health secretary cited the Cass review into gender identity services as saying there was currently not enough evidence about the impact on young people of using puberty-suppressing hormones, which are occasionally used for children with gender dysphoria.
But Labour MPs including Stella Creasy said that while the review published earlier this year by the paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass recommended caution, this did not mean a complete ban.
In a lengthy thread on X on Sunday, Streeting said he was backing an emergency ban on their use, imposed by his Conservative predecessor, Victoria Atkins, which is being challenged in the high court.
News of Streeting’s decision prompted a reaction from some Labour MPs over the weekend, with Creasy saying the Cass review “recommended caution, not exclusion” on puberty blockers for children.
She wrote on X: “To those asking, will always be MP who listens to demand for better research & evidence base for help for those with gender dysphoria, not abandons them.”
Zarah Sultana, another backbencher, tweeted: “Labour’s manifesto promised to ‘remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition & acceptance’. That entails ending the Tories’ ban on puberty blockers. Young people – cis & trans – must have access to healthcare they need. I’ll always stand with the trans community.”
Nadia Whittome said: “Only a small number of young people are prescribed puberty blockers. Those who are often describe them as lifesaving. I know the distress the puberty blockers ban is causing them. No matter what happens in court, I will continue fighting for the government to scrap it.”
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Following his posts on social media, LGBT+ Labour published a letter to Streeting, signed by the organisation’s national trans officer, Dylan Naylor, and Willow Parker, the trans officer for the political party’s student wing.
They wrote: “In line with the review’s recommendations, steps must be taken to cut waiting lists for trans youth, address long-term staffing issues, move towards a decentralised, equitable system for accessing care (including through the provision of regional centres), provide comprehensive training for NHS staff on how best to support and work sensitively with trans and questioning young people, and better address the current toxicity of public debate which is actively harmful to young people.”
The authors called on the health secretary to “urgently set out the timeline, scope and nature” of a clinical trial and added: “We hope that, under this new Labour government, progress can be made to reset the public discussion on trans rights, centring on the humanity of, and compassion for, each individual trans person.”
Previously: Streeting's Xitter statements are discussed here, this is more about the reaction to them.
We'll see what he tells parliament, but IMO it's reasonable for him to follow the science, get more trials done ASAP and approve the medicine if the evidence shows. As long as these kids get appropriate care in the meantime without delay.
Approving medicine counter to scientific advice sets a bad precedent, may cause more issues, and might attract lawsuits from terfs etc.
Is he following science? Recommendation 6 of the report recommends more research. Which recommendation says that they should be banned in the meantime?
Recommendation 10 says "All children should be offered fertility counselling and preservation prior to going onto a medical pathway.", which implies that there is a medical pathway.
The report advocates all kinds of caution. It doesn't appear to go where the Atkins and Streeting, who are politicians, not scientists, have taken it.