Kemi Badenoch has reignited her feud with actor David Tennant over women’s rights by telling the former Dr Who star: “I was right.”
And she said that Harry Potter author JK Rowling was owed an apology for being heavily criticised and in some cases ‘cancelled’ for her robust defence of women against trans activists online.
The Conservative leader was speaking to GB News the day after judges on the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a woman is defined as a biological female, after years of debate and argument.
She told GB News: “I spent my entire time as equalities minister really fighting on this issue. I even got abuse from David Tennant.
“You might remember, but it’s one of those things where a lot of people have been scared to speak out.
“You need bravery, and I’m so pleased – I cannot tell you how pleased I am.”
Asked by GB News’ political editor Christopher Hope what her message was for Tennant, she replied: “I was right. And actually what is now really clear is that the law explains something that all children know, men are men and women are women.”
Tennant had won a prize for being a “celebrity ally” at the British LGBT Awards last summer and used his speech to criticise the then-Equalities Minister.
In his acceptance speech he said he was “a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they’re not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention”.
He said: “We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on.
“However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more – I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this.”
Badenoch also said that JK Rowling deserved an apology.
She said: “I’m a big fan of JK Rowling. She is one of those women who has been incredibly brave, but she also did something really special, which is she supported other women.
“This was something that was so helpful, making sure that those who did not have a voice got support.
“I was a minister, when people attacked me, I could shake it off, but I also made sure that I helped those people who were losing their jobs and being hounded out and having their reputations damaged because of this.”
