Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Ashley Dalton MP, a vocal supporter of trans rights, as new health minister following the sacking of Andrew Gwynne from the key role over alleged offensive posts in a WhatsApp group.
During a discussion on Twitter in 2016 Ms Dalton – who was elected as MP for West Lancashire in 2023 – insisted: ‘Trans women aren’t male. They’re women.’
She also remarked: ‘Personally I think we shouldn’t have gendered bathrooms at all.’
Pressed on whether that applied to changing rooms, Ms Dalton said: ‘Loads of places already do this with cubicles for privacy.’
Dalton previously served as shadow women’s minister when Labour was in Opposition.
Since becoming an MP, she served as shadow minister for women and equalities until the general election in July, when she was re-elected with 50.5% of the vote.
Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman has subsequently sought to distance the Prime Minister from the past pro-trans comments of Dalton.
“I can’t speak to comments made by people prior to prior to being in Government,” he said when asked about the social media posts.
Asked if Ms Dalton’s position on single sex toilets reflected Government policy, the spokesman replied: “No, the position remains clear. The PM has been clear before that single sex spaces will and should be protected.”
