A third of Labour MPs are following JK Rowling on X

Over a third of all Labour MPs are following JK Rowling on X, including several prominent cabinet officials.

At least 147 of the 378 Labour parliamentarians using the social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, are following the controversial ‘gender-critical’ pundit’s account where she regularly posts her heavily controversial opinions on trans rights.

This means 36 per cent of Labour’s entire parliamentary caucus follows Rowling’s main account, according to data collected by the site Who Do MPs Follow.

The 59-year-old Harry Potter author became a central figure of the ‘gender-critical’ crowd after first expressing her views in 2019. She later published the essay, “TERF Wars,” where she declared her opposition to what she described as “new trans activism”.

Since then, she has made numerous widely-criticised claims about trans people, particularly trans women.

Health secretary Wes Streeting is among those currently following Rowling on X/Twitter. The Ilford North MP has previously faced backlash for saying he believes trans women are not women on two separate occasions and indefinitely extending a Conservative-era ban on puberty blockers for trans youngsters.

Other MPs include former Labour leader Ed Miliband, equalities minister Bridget Philipson, and former Deputy leader Angela Rayner.

Comparatively, just 32 of the 116 Tory MPs in Parliament follow JK Rowling – around 27 per cent of total sitting ministers. There are four times more Labour MPs following the author than Conservative MPs.

In total, at least 201 MPs are currently following JK Rowling’s X account – 30 per cent of the 650 MPs that currently make up the House.

According to the website, 25 Labour MPs currently follow Sex Matters founder Maya Forstater, 39 follow Julie Bindel, 15 follow Helen Joyce, and 13 follow Graham Linehan.

Five Labour MPs also follow actor turned right-wing pundit Laurence Fox, who last year was charged with allegedly sharing an ‘upskirting‘ photo of broadcaster Nardiner Kaur, which he denies.

The anti-LGBTQ+ pundit was also ordered to pay £180,000 after he was sued for defaming Drag Race star Crystal.

The amount of Labour MPs following ‘gender-critical’ pundits comes as the party continues to face criticism for its approach to trans rights.

A study published by YouGov last year found that 91 per cent of trans people in the UK distrust the Labour Party.