‘Incredibly insulting’: Keir Starmer slammed for hosting Downing Street Pride party

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has been criticised for hosting a Pride party at 10 Downing Street amid a rollback of trans rights under his Labour government.

The official social media accounts for 10 Downing Street, the locale of British prime ministers since 1735, shared a video of imagery of a reception held at the London residence to mark Pride Month.

In an address to attendees of the reception, Starmer said they were there to “celebrate that truly transformational work” carried out by LGBTQ+ organisations.

“Because of you and indeed everyone in this garden that the UK has become a better place, where people are freer to be who they are, love who they love,” he said.

“But, of course, there is always more work to do – and I accept that – but I want you to know that this is a government that is committed to the fundamental principles of respect, dignity and equality.”

Starmer added he is “absolutely determined” to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people “right across Britain”.

The comments are deeply ironic given that Starmer himself has notably flip-flopped on trans issues more times than a pancake on Strove Tuesday.

In 2020, Labour was committed to introducing self-ID for trans people but by 2023 the party – under Starmer – had shifted to a version of Gender Recognition Act reform that kept a “medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

Alongside this, since Labour swept to victory in the July 2024 general election – just over year ago – the Starmer government extended and indefinitely banned puberty blockers for trans youth brought in by the previous Conservative government following the Cass Review and supported the controversial Supreme Court ruling.

Following the judgement by the Supreme Court’s justices, Starmer was asked by BBC News if he still believes that transgender women are women, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “No, the Supreme Court judgment has made clear that when looking at the Equality Act, a woman is a biological woman,”, adding: “That is set out clearly by the court judgment.”

Starmer also said he was “really pleased” that the judgement had allegedly given “much-needed clarity” about the definition of sex.

“I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court, which has given us much-needed clarity, and I think for those now drawing up guidance, it’s a much clearer position,” he also told the BBC. “I’m really pleased the court has clarified the position. We can move on from there and that’s very helpful. I welcome that.”

When asked a similar question by asked by ITV West Country, he replied: “I think the Supreme Court has answered that question.

“A woman is an adult female, the court has made that absolutely clear. It’s important that we see the judgement for what it is: a welcome step forward. We need to move [on] and ensure all guidance is in the right place according to that judgement.”

The Supreme Court ruling is already having wide-ranging impacts on trans people in the UK, with several organisations having already taken steps to exclude trans people from single-sex spaces and services, including the Football Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Scottish parliament building.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies were quick to point these facts out underneath Downing Street’s social media posts.

“This is ridiculous. He has no right to host an event like this whilst stripping rights from the community. Bore off,” on social media user wrote.

“Keir you can’t be serious… you’ve rolled back trans rights by 20 years this is incredibly insulting,” another said.

A third wrote: “You are an active part of the Lemkin Institute raising a red flag for potential genocide against trans and intersex people. This is the most regressive government on LGBT+ rights in my lifetime, even if previous used worse rhetoric. You should be embarrassed posting this but you’re not because that requires human emotion something a Starmer government is lacking entirely.”

A fourth person called the Pride event “utterly insulting” when the government is “simultaneously stripping queer and trans people of their rights”.

“If he actually wanted to support the LGBT+ community he would oppose the supreme court ruling and EHRC guidance, waving a flag around does not support us. It’s empty gestures to try and get votes from a community Labour have turned their backs on,” they said.

Another wrote that while they are “happy to see the pride celebrations”, it is a “bit of a kick in the teeth to the trans folk you’ve chosen to exclude following the high court ruling funded by private lobbyists,” adding: “LGBT, The T is just as important as the rest.”