Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s party facing controversy over Adnan Hussein’s trans comments
Adnan Hussain’s comments about trans women have prompted controversy. (Rasid Necati Aslim/Getty)
Adnan Hussain's comments about trans women have prompted controversy. (Rasid Necati Aslim/Getty)
Former Labour MP Adnan Hussain, part of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new political party, has caused a rift within the left-wing group after making comments online about trans women.
Controversy erupted after the Blackburn MP, who won the seat as an independent at last year’s general election by just 132 votes, posted that trans women were “not biologically women.” There are also calls for the faction, which has no official party name, to clarify where it stands on trans rights.
The National reported that Hussain became the focus of arguments on social media after someone on X/Twitter said the group, known provisionally as Your Party, should not “parrot the same neoliberal idea of gender ideology”.
Hussain quote-tweeted the post, saying: “I agree, women’s rights and safe spaces should not be encroached upon. Safe third spaces should be an alternative option.”
But trans broadcaster India Willoughby responded: “I honestly think Zarah Sultana (who I have faith in) and Jeremy Corbyn need to make a statement about Adnan Hussain MP and trans rights.
‘They’re not biologically women’
“My community is living in very real fear at the moment. Terrifying. We are sick to the back teeth of hearing trans hate is a ‘point of view’,” Willoughby continued.
Hussain reacted by writing: “There was no hatred expressed, India, it’s a conversation that needs to be had. Agreeing with women on their need for spaces exclusive to them is not an expression of hatred to any other community.
“I stated the need for safe spaces for trans people, that’s not hatred.”
Another person on X then asked Adnan Hussain if he believed trans women were women, prompting the reply: “They’re not biologically women, hence trans women.”
Corbyn and Sultana have always voiced their support for transgender rights and the latter wrote a few hours later: “I’ve always stood with the trans community and I always will.
“The same forces targeting migrants and Muslims are attacking LGBTQ+ people, especially trans people. Our safety is in solidarity. None of us are free until all of us are free.
“That’s the new party we’re building. Bigotry has no place in it.”
Jeremy Corbyn has yet to comment on the row.
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