Health Secretary Wes Streeting insists puberty blocker ban WILL keep

The new Health Secretary today defended continuing the ban on puberty blockers following a backlash from fellow Labour MPs.

Wes Streeting said he was ‘treading cautiously’ because the long-term impact on young people taking the drugs is unclear.

He also hit out at ‘highly irresponsible’ statements by critics, after barrister Jolyon Maugham claimed his decision to keep the restrictions in place would ‘kill trans children’.

Mr Streeting took to social media as a growing number of Labour backbenchers called for the ban on ‘life-saving’ puberty blockers to be lifted.

He wrote: ‘We don’t yet know the risks of stopping pubertal hormones at this critical life stage.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended keeping the ban on puberty blockers, adding he was ‘treading cautiously’, because of the unclear long term impact of drugs on young people

Trans rights activists take part in a protest against the ban in London last April

‘That is the basis upon which I am making decisions. I am treading cautiously because the safety of children must come first. Some of the public statements being made are highly irresponsible.

‘I know there’s lots of fear and anxiety. I am determined to improve the quality of, and access to, care for trans people. The decisions I am taking will always be based on evidence, rather than politics or political pressure.’

It emerged on Friday that Mr Streeting wants to make permanent the emergency ban on private prescriptions of puberty blockers for gender-questioning children which was brought in by the Conservatives in May.

The NHS had already ended routine use of the drugs after the landmark Cass review questioned the evidence behind gender medicine.

Good Law Project director Mr Maugham, notorious for clubbing a fox to death with a baseball bat while wearing a kimono, is challenging the ban in the High Court.

He wrote online: ‘My feelings about Wes Streeting are unprintable. These measures will kill trans children.’ Since then at least four Labour MPs have tweeted in support of trans healthcare and against the ban.

This is an early sign of the pressure the new government will face from its own side over the contentious issue.

They included Stella Creasy who wrote: ‘Cass review recommended caution, not exclusion, for any treatment and drew attention to shortcomings of previous service.

‘To those asking [I] will always be MP who listens to demand for better research & evidence base for help for those with gender dysphoria, not abandons them.’

Stella Creasy is among Labour MPs who have tweeted in support of lifting the ban, writing that the Cass review recommended ‘caution, not exclusion’ of any treatment

Good Law Project director Jolyon Maugham is challenging the ban in the High Court

Zarah Sultana said: ‘Labour’s manifesto promised to “remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition & acceptance”. That entails ending the Tories’ ban on puberty blockers.

‘Young people – cis & trans – must have access to healthcare they need. I’ll always stand with the trans community.’

Nadia Whittome wrote: ‘Only a small number of young people are prescribed puberty blockers. Those who are often describe them as life-saving.

‘I know the distress the puberty blockers ban is causing them. No matter what happens in court, I will continue fighting for the Government to scrap it.’

Apsana Begum said: ‘Trans people need to be able to exist safely as themselves with respect & dignity, and with equal access to adequately funded healthcare.

‘I stand in solidarity with the trans community – including young trans people – for whom puberty blockers are a life-saving me