It is now 8 months since the Cass Review was published and still there is no formal statement from the @libdems about whether the Party accepts the findings of the Cass Review. For those who are still wondering why, the events of this week help exemplify. 🧵
On the 11th Dec the Secretary of State for Health, @wesstreeting, announced an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for treating children with gender dysphoria. He cited an unsafe prescribing environment and lack of safety and efficacy data in this cohort. See 👇
He also called the historic situation of prescribing puberty blockers to children with gender dysphoria without a proper evidence base a ‘scandal.’ Strong words indeed from a Secretary of State. Observers may assume the @LibDems would finally come off the fence re Cass Review
Three Lib Dem MPs spoke inc. the Health spx @HelenMorganMP and Equalities spx @cajardineMP - neither stated they accepted Cass. Instead they chose to speak about long waiting lists and toxic debate. A new MP @VikkiSlade72 then spoke see 😢
The LGBT+ Lib Dems then released the following statement about the indefinite ban.
Without a formal statement on Cass or Streeting’s latest decision, some people think this is the Lib Dem position. Hard to know where to start with the hyperbole and false equivalency, e.g. calling a 4-yr review with 7 peer-reviewed studies equivalent to ‘anti-vax research’
There are activists in the Party with the ear of senior leaders. One of them wrote in Bylines Times with echoes of the LGBT+ statement. TL:DR Belcher agrees with MP Sobel - it’s discriminatory not to give these drugs to gender distressed children because they’re used elsewhere.
So, onto why the Party has stayed quiet. Institutional capture? Yes. Not wanting to upset the vocal trans lobby in the Party? Yes, definitely that. Divided opinion in the Party? Yes. Not just Slade but others, including the 4 Lib Dem Cambridgeshire MPs
Just this week Dr Cass was asked about the non-response of the Lib Dems to her Review in an interview. In the Politics Home interview they describe her as having a ‘defeated look.’ politicshome.com/thehouse/artic…
However strong leaders and those with integrity know the right thing is rarely the easy thing. When a Secretary of State for Health is calling the historic medical treatment of children a scandal, the @LibDems need to take note, they need to break their silence. #CourageCalls
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