Labour moves to ban puberty blockers in a blow to trans rights
July 15, 2024A ban on puberty blockers may become permanent as the Labour Party adopts a stricter stance on trans issues, according to ‘The Telegraph’.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, plans to prohibit powerful hormone blockers for children through all avenues, pending the results of a legal hearing.
Victoria Atkins, his predecessor, enacted laws to ban the supply of blockers to children by private or off-shore clinics in emergency legislation before the general election.
These laws are set to expire on September 3, and the new Government must decide on making the ban permanent. It is believed Labour will move to renew the ban with the intention of making it permanent.
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Mr. Streeting stated he would “always put the safety of children first,” further explaining, “Our approach will continue to be informed by Dr. Cass’s review, which found there was insufficient evidence to show puberty blockers were safe for under-18s.”
“This ban brings the private sector in line with the NHS. We are committed to providing young people with the evidence-led care that they deserve,” he added.
The decision to pursue a permanent ban on puberty blockers is one of the first decisive actions on trans issues by the new Government, aiming to fully implement the findings of the independent Cass Review.
However, the decision to ban the drugs is being contested in the High Court by the Good Law Project and TransActual, an activist group, with a hearing beginning at the High Court on Friday morning.
Jolyon Mougham, the director at Good Law Project and the lawyer bringing the challenge, mentioned before the hearing that Mr. Streeting had clarified his stance to the judge.
“Wes Streeting’s position is that, subject to the court proceedings and consultation, he will renew it and make the ban permanent,” he said.
The High Court was informed that Ms. Atkins overruled officials and acted on her “personal views” when she used emergency legislation to ban puberty blockers.
During the hearing on Friday, lawyers for TransActual and a young person who cannot be named argued that the legislation enacted by the previous government on May 29, which restricted the prescription of the medication from European or private prescribers and limited NHS provision to clinical trials, was unlawful.
The Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland are defending the claim and have argued that the case should be dismissed.
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