Writer Claims She Was Sacked After Allegedly-Transphobic Comments

Writer and journalist Joan Smith has told the Times newspaper that she was sacked from her role as co-chair of London's Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) after "raising concerns about transgender women using rape and domestic abuse refuges," receiving an email from London City Hall about the post she has held since 2013.

City Hall claims she was not sacked, but that the board was restructured. Smith claims she was not consulted about her role being restructured out of the organization. She said she wrote to London Mayor Sadiq Khan to say that female victims of male violence should not have to share safe spaces with "individuals who have male bodies." She also said that transgender women should have access to the services they need, but added that she was writing on behalf of charities which had raised concerns.

In the eyes of Smith, she fell out of favor with City Hall after criticizing endemic misogyny within the Metropolitan Police, which she claims has covered up the prevalence of sexual predators within the force.

A City Hall spokesperson said: "The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has undertaken a review of all of its partnership boards, including the VAWG board, to enhance the strategic leadership of the criminal justice system for London and to standardize how all the boards are chaired.

"Our boards bring together a broad range of experts and provide a plurality of viewpoints on the complex issues we are working to tackle. Joan Smith's expertise and insights on the VAWG board have been valuable and we are grateful for her time and service."

London's deputy mayor for policing and crime, Sophie Linden, tweeted in response to Smith's allegations, saying: "This is simply not true. The structure of all our boards at City Hall is being changed. It has nothing to do with any views Joan has expressed."

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