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Rosie Duffield vs. transgender people

Rosie Duffield is a British politician and anti-transgender activist. Duffield was a panelist at the first LGB Alliance conference in 2021.

Background

Rosemary Clare “Rosie” Duffield was born on July 1, 1971 in Norwich and grew up in south-east London.

In the 2017 general election, Duffield was elected to the House of Commons as the MP for Canterbury. Duffield was re-elected as MP for Canterbury in the 2019 general election. In the 2024 general election, Duffield was elected to a third term.

Anti-transgender activism

In August 2020 Duffield’s only LGBT staff member quit, citing Duffy’s anti-transgender views. In October, another staffer quit for the same reason.

Duffield appeared on a panel titled “Cancel Culture and Free Speech” at the 2021 conference held by LGB separatist group LGB Alliance. Other panelists were Joanna Cherry and Jackie Doyle-Price.

Duffield was a signatory with other anti-trans activists on a 2022 Sunday Times open letter on proposed cobversion therapy laws.

References

Dale, Bob; Keohan, Michael (April 28, 2025). MP calls for apology over ‘Labour hounding.’ BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y4z44pv74o

Neame, Katie (January 10, 2024). 33 student Labour clubs slam party in row over Duffield and trans rights. LabourList https://labourlist.org/2024/01/rosie-duffield-investigation-allegations-transphobia-antisemitism-university-labour-clubs/

Pallant, James (January 4, 2024). Rosie Duffield, Labour MP for Canterbury, set to stand again at General Election as allegations over liking tweet dismissed. Kent Online https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/completely-exonerated-kent-mp-hopes-to-stand-again-at-gene-299549/

Mureddu-Reid, Hamish; James, Rhiannon (January 4. 2024). Allegations of antisemitism against MP dropped. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gye5337k7o

McPolin, Sean (November 26, 2023). Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield investigated by Labour party for liking tweet by Father Ted writer Graham Linehan they claim is anti-Semitic. Kent Online https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/kent-mp-investigated-for-liking-anti-semitic-tweet-297561/

Pallant, James (October 31, 2022). University of Kent students call for Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield to have Labour whip withdrawn. Kent Online https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/activists-in-kent-want-mp-replaced-after-eddie-izzard-row-276224/

Baska, Maggie (October 27, 2022). Labour urged to remove whip from Rosie Duffield over ‘transphobic views.’ PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/27/labour-whip-rosie-duffield-eddie-izzard/

Chappell, Elliot (October 27, 2022). Labour groups urge party to withdraw whip from Rosie Duffield MP. LabourList https://labourlist.org/2022/10/labour-groups-urge-party-to-withdraw-whip-from-rosie-duffield-mp/

Young, Gregor (21 October 21, 2021). LGB Alliance conference: Joanna Cherry joins Rosie Duffield for ‘free speech’ panel. The National https://www.thenational.scot/news/19664675.lgb-alliance-conference-joanna-cherry-joins-rosie-duffield-free-speech-panel/

Wakefield, Lily (September 30, 2021). Labour MP Rosie Duffield condemned for spreading ‘harmful falsehoods’ about trans kids. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/09/30/rosie-duffield-labour-transphobia-graham-linehan/

Heffer, Greg (September 19, 2021). Labour MP Rosie Duffield to skip party’s conference ‘due to threats’ amid calls for end to ‘factionalism’ and ‘intolerance.’ Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/labour-mp-rosie-duffield-to-skip-partys-conference-due-to-threats-amid-calls-for-end-to-factionalism-and-intolerance-12412356

Staff report (September 26, 2021). Labour conference: Not right to say only women have a cervix, says Starmer. BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58698406

Parsons, Vic (October 5, 2020). Labour activists demand Rosie Duffield have party whip withdrawn amid bitter transphobia row. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/05/rosie-duffield-transphobia-labour-whip-withdrawn-maya-forstater-lgbt-heather-peto/

Rodgers, Sienna (October 15, 2020). GMB MPs staff branch condemns “actions of Rosie Duffield towards staff member.” LabourList https://labourlist.org/2020/10/gmb-mps-staff-branch-condemns-actions-of-rosie-duffield-towards-staff-member/

Kersley, Andrew (September 16, 2020). Duffield reiterates support for trans rights after LGBT+ staffer quits. LabourList https://labourlist.org/2020/09/duffield-reiterates-support-for-trans-rights-after-lgbt-staffer-quits/

Parsons, Vic (September 16, 2020). Lesbian staffer quits Rosie Duffield’s office over the Labour MP’s ‘overtly transphobic’ opinions. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/09/16/rosie-duffield-labour-mp-lesbian-transphobia-trans-people-cervixes-canterbury/

Langford, Eleanor (August 11, 2020). Labour LGBT+ affiliate calls on Keir Starmer to take ‘measurable action’ against MP Rosie Duffield over controversial tweets. Politics Home https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/lgbt-labour-calls-on-keir-starmer-to-take-measurable-action-against-rosie-duffield-over-controversial-tweets

Chappell, Elliot (August 2, 2020). “I don’t think Rosie Duffield is a transphobe,” says Jess Phillips. LabourList https://labourlist.org/2020/08/i-dont-think-rosie-duffield-is-a-transphobe-says-jess-phillips/

Jee, Alex (August 1, 2020). Canterbury and Whitstable MP Rosie Duffield embroiled in ‘transphobe’ twitter feud. KentOnline https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/mp-hits-out-in-transphobia-war-231438/

Coverage in anti-trans press

Lambert, Harry (April 8, 2023). Rosie Duffield: “You never change sex.” The Labour MP’s views on gender self-ID have been met with fierce opposition. Can her party find a compromise? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-interview/2023/04/rosie-duffield-you-never-change-sex

Wheeler, Caroline (November 26, 2023). Labour MP Rosie Duffield ‘targeted in antisemitism row due to her trans views.’ The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-mp-rosie-duffield-under-investigation-liking-tweet-offensive-zz20fd7pw

Penna, Dominic (January 20, 2023). Being in the Labour Party is like an abusive relationship, says Rosie Duffield. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/01/20/rosie-duffield-labour-party-like-abusive-relationship/

Grylls, George (July 27, 2021). Labour MP Rosie Duffield investigated by party for liking anti-trans tweet. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-mp-rosie-duffield-investigated-by-party-after-liking-anti-trans-tweet-mf0bpnsk6

Grylls, George (July 27, 2021). Labour MP Rosie Duffield investigated by party for liking anti-trans tweet.The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-mp-rosie-duffield-investigated-by-party-after-liking-anti-trans-tweet-mf0bpnsk6

Selected writing by Duffield

Duffield, Rosie (January 20, 2023). The Labour Party has a woman problem. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/01/the-labour-party-has-a-woman-problem/

Media

GBNews (April 25, 2025). Rosie Duffield RESPONDS to Starmer REFUSAL to apologise for trans row – ‘Looks at me like an ALIEN!’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUlnF4deo74

PoliticsJOE (April 24, 2025). Why Rosie Duffield was exiled BEFORE anti-trans activism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbpWDgC0tfc

TalkTV with Rosie Duffield (April 24, 2025). Keir Starmer “Flip Flopped So Many Times” Over Gender Wars | Rosie Duffield SLAMS PM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESBcosHn0kg’

TalkTV with Julia Hartley-Brewer and Rosie Duffield (March 25, 2025). “Mad!” Rosie Duffield On Gender-Neutral CBeebies Raccoon, Athlete Gender Testing & Rachel Reeves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUiJHTeq5o

Times Radio Politics (January 25, 2025). Rosie Duffield MP: I was ‘bullied’ by Starmer’s Labour over my trans views. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_WXwgIwnc

Left of Centre Brexit (January 3, 2025). What is the controversy about Rosie Duffield’s trans views? (DVLA 30). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7P5R2ReLl0

The Knight Tube with Stephen Knight, Iram Ramzan, Rosie Duffield, and Rosie Kay (November 7, 2024). Trans Ideology, what next? The Knight Tube: Live from Westminster w/ Rosie Duffield and Rosie Kay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T88FKtApSBs

Spiked with Ella Whelan, Tom Slater and Lauren Smith (Dec 3, 2023). The witch-hunting of Rosie Duffield. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ddxOK0Si28

TalkTV (October 7, 2023). Rosie Duffield: ‘Venues Hidden Until Police Sorted’ Over Gender ID Protests At Labour Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwzDpEJKkM8

TalkTV with Julia Hartley-Brewer and Rosie Duffield (August 14, 2023). “They’re Afraid Of Being CANCELLED” Rosie Duffield Says Frontbenchers Agree With Her On Trans Issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNUr8hG1H5U

Piers Morgan Uncensored with Piers Morgan and Rosie Duffield (January 25, 2023). LIVE: Rosie Duffield Trans Row | Piers Morgan Uncensored | 25-Jan-23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4ZtTK0oMBA

Daily Mail World (January 18, 2023). Moment Labour MP Rosie Duffield heckled by own party over Scottish gender reform bill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEBBa5_DQUs

GBNews (January 15, 2023). Should the Prime Minister block Nicola Sturgeon’s trans law? | Rosie Duffield MP discusses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWCFXx–Zds

EssenceOfThought (December 11, 2021). Debunking Rosie Duffield’s Anti-Trans Fearmongering – #PoliticsLive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw0lPg6N9vg

GBNews (November 29, 2021). Rosie Duffield ‘sometimes’ regrets weighing in on trans debate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcGjO-moiuU

GBNews (November 29, 2021). Labour MP Rosie Duffield insists she is not transphobic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SA3E-WYXGY

The London Standard (October 22, 2021). Labour MP Rosie Duffield calls party ‘an absolute embarrassment’ at LGB conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxRQ1ybRBAE

The Mess We’re In with Graham Linehan, “Arty Morty,” Helen Staniland, and Rosie Duffield (September 29, 2021). The Mess We’re In Ep. #85: with Special Guest Rosie Duffield. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USBjstAOWA4

Sophie From Mars Streams (September 19, 2021). Rosie Duffield’s transphobic tantrum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmJDKtMlq0A

Resources

Rosie Duffield (rosieduffieldmp.co.uk)

UK Parliament (members.parliament.uk)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Grokipedia (grokipedia.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

UnHerd (unherd.com)