Dr Who star David Tennant should apologise to Kemi Badenoch for telling her to “shut up” Wes Streeting says
DAVID Tennant should apologise for telling Kemi Badenoch to “shut up” over her trans views, a senior Labour frontbencher has said.
The Dr Who star said he wished the government minister did “not exist” in a furious rant as he picked up an award at an LGBTQ+ bash.
In a big intervention, Wes Streeting said the actor was “wrong” and should say sorry.
He said: “What I would say about Kemi is, we have fought like cat and dog on a whole range of issues, but I would always defend her right to speak up.
“And I think the way to beat politicians like Kemi is through debate and argument and at the ballot box. Not to shut up and go away.
“And in terms of David Tennant’s comments, as a general rule, I never think it’s a good look, or good in practice, for men to tell women to shut up. And I think that was wrong.”
He added: “I do think Kemi is owed an apology. And I think that would be the right way to draw a line under all of this.”
Labour’s shadow health secretary spoke out during an interview with the Sun on Sunday.
Kemi – whose brief as a Cabinet minister includes women and equalities – has accused Mr Tennant of being a “misogynist”.
Labour has been at the centre of their own furious row over trans and women’s rights.
Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of “abandoning” women by JK Rowling over the issue.
Labour’s own Rosie Duffield has been forced to cancel campaign events over fears for her safety after he spoke out on women’s rights.
Mr Streeting said: “I’m really sorry with the treatment that Rosie has received and what she’s been through.
“And I’m particularly disgusted that during the course of this election campaign, she has had to change how she interacts with her voters because of intimidation and abuse.”
Asked whose fault it is, he says “there’s been a collective failure…across politics”.
Most recently, Labour have tied themselves in knots over whether or not only biological women should be allowed to use ladies’ loos – or if trans women can too.
Wes said: “I think it’s important that they are sex based and you know, you don’t, you don’t end up in a situation where women feel uncomfortable.”