Penny Mordaunt rejected concerns about removing the terms “mother” and “woman” from a new law governing maternity leave, according to Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries yesterday.
She claimed that the potential Tory leader “dismissed” criticism for referring to people as “persons” instead.
After being accused of not speaking up for women, Mrs. Dorries’ intervention will raise new questions about the international trade minister’s ‘woke’ views.
She claimed that Miss Mordaunt “refused to even discuss” the changes she was recommending with fellow ministers Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch, who are now challenging her for the leadership position.
‘I have a WhatsApp exchange from when I tried to reach out,’ she wrote on Twitter, “where Penny again dismisses the issue of erasing the words “mother and woman” and replacing [them] with person, instead urging me to focus not on that, but on the positives.”
“I phoned her. She informed me that a woman could not be referred to as a woman or a mother in legislation due to the Equalities Act’s legal position. It was false.
“I pleaded with No. 10 to step in.” I think Kemi and Liz committed the same error.
The wording was changed after Liz took over the portfolio and further pressure from the Lords. We all have different opinions on a variety of topics, Mrs. Dorries continued.
This doesn’t make them legitimate targets for criticism or righteous indignation, but rather topics for discussion in a thriving, civilised democracy.
It happened after Miss Mordaunt claimed she was the target of “smears” following the release of a document that seemed to indicate she had changed her mind about transgender issues.
After claiming that she had never backed gender self-identification, which holds that a person should be able to determine their gender identity without any medical requirements, the former defence secretary made an effort to brush off inquiries about her prior opinions.
According to the leaked document, she had supported eliminating at least one step from the medical procedure necessary to officially change one’s gender.
In a television debate, Miss Mordaunt got into an argument with Miss Truss and Mrs. Badenoch about their alleged reversal of the policy she supported as the minister for women and equal rights.
“I phoned her. She informed me that a woman could not be referred to as a woman or a mother in legislation according to the Equalities Act’s legal status. It was false.
“I pleaded with No. 10 to step in.” I think Kemi and Liz committed the same error.
The phrasing was changed once Liz took over the portfolio amid increased pressure from the Lords. We all have diverse ideas on a variety of topics, Mrs. Dorries continued.
This doesn’t make them legitimate targets for criticism or righteous indignation, but rather topics for discussion in a flourishing, civilised democracy.
It happened after Miss Mordaunt claimed she was the target of “smears” following the release of a document that seemed to indicate she had altered her mind about transgender issues.
After claiming that she had never backed gender self-identification, which holds that a person should be free to select their gender identity without any medical qualifications, the former defence secretary made an effort to brush off inquiries about her prior opinions.
According to the leaked document, she had supported eliminating at least one step from the medical procedure necessary to officially change one’s gender.
In a television debate, Miss Mordaunt got into an argument with Miss Truss and Mrs. Badenoch about their alleged reversal of the policy she supported as the minister for women and equal rights.