Senior aide to Sir Keir Starmer says MP Rosie Duffield should spend less time ... trends now
The row over Labour's 'woman problem' intensified last night over claims that the party's high command had made derogatory remarks about an MP who was 'shouted down' in the Commons over her views on trans issues.
This newspaper has been told that a senior aide to Sir Keir Starmer said 'it would be nice' if Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield 'spent a bit more time' in her constituency, rather than 'hanging out with JK Rowling'.
The Harry Potter author has been an outspoken advocate for women's rights, including the need to protect single-sex spaces.
Ms Duffield has said that being in the Labour Party feels like being in an 'abusive relationship' after a tumultuous Commons session was followed by 'silence' from Sir Keir.
It was told that a senior aide to Sir Keir Starmer said 'it would be nice' if Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield 'spent a bit more time' in her constituency, rather than 'hanging out with JK Rowling'
The aide – who denies being critical of Ms Duffield – is said to have suggested the MP associates too much with Ms Rowling.
The writer organised a lunch at the River Cafe, an exclusive Michelin-star restaurant in West London, last April for women's rights campaigners – including Ms Duffield – who have been accused of holding 'transphobic' or 'gender critical' beliefs.
The event followed the launch of a women's rights campaign called 'Respect My Sex if you want my X', which 'encourages voters to ask politicians for their views on sex and gender identity'. Ms Rowling later published a picture of her posing with Ms Duffield on Twitter, with the caption: 'Two ex-single mums now united for women's rights.'
Ms Duffield has said that being in the Labour Party feels like being in an 'abusive relationship' after a tumultuous Commons session
Last night, Ms Duffield said in response to the alleged comments: 'I'm in Canterbury every week. It's where I live and work. But I'm not aware Keir's been down here, or that any of his team have ever been down here.
'If they'd like to come and visit they'd be very welcome. But to be honest, I'm not sure they even know where Canterbury is.'
Last week, the 51-year-old MP was heckled in the Commons by male Labour backbenchers as she welcomed the Government's move to block a Scottish law that would allow people to change their legal sex from the age of 16 without a medical certificate or long waiting period.
Campaigners have warned that such a law would have a huge impact on women's rights and single-sex spaces.
After the debate, Ms Duffield warned that Labour risked appearing 'sexist', saying: 'Every day, survivors of domestic violence still message me, telling me not to stop. Keir may dismiss this as a culture war issue, but for these women, it is most definitely not.
After Ms Duffield was 'shouted down' in the Commons over her views on trans issues, it was followed by 'silence' from Sir Keir
