By Kate WhannelPolitical reporter8 February 2024, 12:07 GMTUpdated 18 minutes agoVideo caption, Watch: Rishi Sunak chose not to apologise to Brianna Ghey’s father over a trans comment in the CommonsRishi Sunak has accused Sir Keir Starmer of showing “the worst of politics” for “using the tragedy” of Brianna Ghey in a House of Commons dispute.Sir Keir criticized the PM on Wednesday for making a joke about his “definition of a woman” on the day Brianna’s mother was visiting Parliament.The father of the murdered transgender teen called on Mr Sunak to apologize.But the PM has declined to do so – and instead accused the Labour leader of being “sad and wrong”.He said his words to Sir Keir at Prime Minister’s Questions had been “absolutely legitimate”.”I’ve nothing but the most heartfelt sympathy for [Brianna Ghey’s] entire family and friends.”But to use that tragedy to detract from the very separate and clear point I was making about Keir Starmer’s proven track record of multiple U-turns on major policies, because he doesn’t have a plan, I think is both sad and wrong, and it demonstrates the worst of politics.”The exchange that triggered the row took place in the House of Commons as Mr Sunak listed what he described as a number of Labour U-turns, accusing Sir Keir of changing his position on “defining a woman”. “Although in fairness, that was only 99% of a U-turn,” he added. Sir Keir replied: “Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna’s mother is in this chamber. Shame.”Parading as a man of integrity when he’s got absolutely no responsibility.”Video caption, Watch: Sunak makes trans jibe to Starmer at PMQsBrianna’s mother Esther was not in the public gallery for the exchange between the two leaders at Prime Minister’s Questions but arrived shortly afterwards.Brianna’s former headteacher Emma Mills had been with Esther Ghey during her visit to Parliament.She told BBC Breakfast: “We came in late into the gallery and missed what was said, and I don’t think she’s really had time to look at the context and what exactly was said, and she wants a little bit of time to be able to do that today.”Sixteen-year-old Brianna was murdered after being lured to a park and stabbed 28 times by teenagers Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe. Asked about the comments on Thursday, leader of the House Penny Mordaunt said Mr Sunak was a “good and caring man” adding: “I’m sure that he has reflected on things.”And that is not just about Mr and Mrs Ghey, that he should reflect on, but I am sure he is also reflecting about people who are trans or who have trans loved ones and family, some of whom sit on these green benches. “I hope the leader of the opposition will also reflect on his actions too. “This government has been right to protect the safety and dignity of woman at each stage of doing so has sought to bring certainty and assurance to trans people. “This government is also right to hold the opposition to account for its multiple inconsistencies and u-turns on its policy platform.”
