, passed by MSPs, removes the need for people to get a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria before starting the change process.
Supporters of the lower age limit previously argued that the age of legal capacity in Scotland was already 16 and that should be no different when it came to changing gender. Sir Keir would not be drawn on whether he would back a challenge, saying he wanted to wait and see what UK ministers decided to do.Author JK Rowling has been an outspoken critic of the reforms in Scotland
He said ministers were awaiting "detailed analysis" of how Scotland's gender law would affect UK legislation.Mr Harper told the BBC: "We are not proposing to make those changes for England, but what we have to do is make a decision about whether that legislation impacts on legislation elsewhere in the UK."That is why we need a detailed analysis of that, and that is the information the government needs before it can take a decision.
The official position of the Scottish Labour Party was to support that change, albeit that some of their MSPs refused to back the bill at the final stage.
All this transgender rubbish is wrong.
Whatever gender a person is born ,if as they grow up and have mixed feelings as to knot knowing what they are, the doctors should give them medication to help them conferm their gender.
True story! When I was 16, I wanted to be a holiday rep! I knew it wasn’t a career but I thought it would be fun!
Is legal sex considered the same as legal gender? I’m trying to understand why legal gender is needed and what it’s used for
Someone with some common sense!
Take note, JoeBiden
There is no such thing as legal gender. And sex cannot be changed
I'll just change my illegal gender then, secretly
BBC too old to talk about this!
Certainly. If I can't drive a car, vote or buy a drink l, why would a decision like this be exempt.
At 16 in Scotland, you can vote. You pay taxes. You can work. You can get married. Have children. Have sex with the opposite or the same sex. You can join the army. But Starmer thinks it's too young to change your gender on a piece of paper? Absolutely nonsensical. Pathetic.
The BBC chooses to report this and not report that Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has avoided paying millions of pounds in tax. Does everything seem ok to you?
Cynical by the SNP and wee Jimmy. Push through a law for Scotland that is difficult to tie in with other UK laws. Scream that UK Government is treating scottish residents with distain by expressing concerns so it's time for an independent Scotland if this how Westminster acts
I completely agree. It's just madness.
Oh good. Recruit for the SNP.
Keir_Starmer if you are old enough to pay taxes at 16, you are old enough to make decisions about your body. I would like to remind you that you were once a human rights barrister.
But not too young to vote….doesLabour actually in anything?
Rare starmer W
Look at the case of the one who wanted to change back but not possible unless prostheses is used
Kids and teens are easily influenced by 'cool' lifestyles....that's why so much money is made from them. Body dysphoria is incredibly rare.
Most sensible thing he has said.
But it’s not too young to be on the road, drink alcohol or join the armed forces?
Says the man that changes his mind daily. How many of the leadership pledges has he kept?
No 16 year old knows anything about themselves because they have not lived a life that could justify this kid of decision being a right one.
Too young to change gender apparently which is a perfectly reversible change at that point, but perfectly legal to start and maintain a sexual relationship and legal to be a parent? Make that make sense 🙃
So why did ScottishLabour MSP’s up here in 🏴 vote for it Labourlosingwomen
But you have let them vote, so fairs fair
Correct 👍
This whole thing is ridiculous
Any age is to young
18 then?
‘TRANSPORT’
One thing I can agree with there Keir.
16 is too young agree. Majority agree.
Speaking to a psychologist people can and do change their mind. After eighteen it’s more unlikely TransRightsAreHumanRights
Yes
Who is paying for the operation 🤔
It sounds to me like he's mimicking Sunak in order to win votes
Take gender off the birth certificate then, only have it added once an adult tells the government what they are Make it a legal requirement to treat everyone as genderless until they're an adult
If 16 is too young to legally be your gender does that mean cis people must by law not be recognised as their gender until at least 18 too? Does this mean everyone is by law to be recognised as genderless until a full adult age?
25 at least!!!
90% of kids who have youthful thoughts, grow out of these ideas as they reach 18-19. This is a Big Pharma racket, which enables weirdo activists.
So is 90!
He’s absolutely right. But I would make it 21 at least. People have to learn who they are, life is complex and difficult.
I knew he'd get something right eventually.
Fukc me. I agree with Kier Stammer
tory politicians caring a bit too much about childrens sexual activities isn’t anything new tbf
He’s right.
Starmer talking sense for once
At last, the first hint that he has some common sense when it comes to this topic.
Fair enough, let them if they want too but only allow it once. If they change their mind then tuff shit.
Sensible.
Finally talking some sense legal age should be 18 -21
I should point out that no human being in the history of the world has changed their sex. You either have XX chromosomes or XY. End of story.
In this country at 16 you can serve in the armed forces, consent to sex, be convicted of crime, work full time, leave home, open a bank account... but not have your legal gender recognised if you're trans. Starmer's ideology, like the Tories he models himself on, is regressive.
Next Keri will say the sky is blue. Or gravity exists. How have we got to a place where this needs saying.
Should be 18
Well, duh!!! A dude putting on a dress makes him a crossdresser, not a girl.
ABOUT ACCURATE PRONUNCIATIONS You (/bbcworldservice), RoyalFamily, BritishCouncil, UniofOxford and Cambridge_Uni may think about helping the ANGLOPHONE NATIONS to achieve clear communication by promoting ACCURATE ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION MATERIALS. Example:
Well said if you can't vote you can't make huge decisions that effect the rest of your lives
I’m confused. Then why did Labour support the bill in the Scottish Parliament? This doesn’t square.
The BBC and Keiths latest bandwagon. He jumps on what he thinks is popular. Watch him jump again, and BBC pander to him again. Keir_Starmer NeverLabour labourcorruption WHERE IS NICK BROWN
Consider this: ‘Though the brain may be done growing in size, it does not finish developing and maturing until the mid- to late 20s.’
BBC news as usual setting their own agenda. Instead, how about looking at the Labour Party and the Tories and their views on: Unions, Food Banks, the NHS, Brexit, the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Energy Crisis, government corruption through contracts for PPE, etc
hmmmm
Agree!
And yet Labour voted to lower the age to 16 in Scotland last week.
100 is too young
Absolutely Conservatives UKLabour 16 years old is far to young! Need at least a year from registering to change gender! Also any criminal need to be tagged!
Well Starmer may yet get my vote. He will still have to get rid of Abbott and Rayner but this looks promising
Finally he's made a decision.
Red Tory strikes again
For once I agree with him
Why? A person can know if they are heterosexual or homosexual legally at 16, what makes gender different? That logic makes no sense to me. Old enough to pay tax and NI but not to know their own mind. You take their money though while telling them their too young to know better.
Is 16 years old too late to abort ? Fucking freaks !
Labour…. 🤷♂️
You can make life-changing choices like getting married, having children and joining the army at 16 but apparently you're too young to realise that you're trans. sure, keir. keep say you're a transphobe.
Basis for Modern Consumerism is not buying for NEEDS..which brings in little profit..but buying for WANTS which brings in much more profit..genital mutilation surgery, hormonal treatments, therapy after-servicing brings in £€$billions for hospitals..'rights' is now a commodity..
Based
He’s right
Absolutely agree. I'm sure the Conservatives agree too, but dare not say so.
Yes, he's right. Anything that involves such profound risks to physical and psychological sexual health needs the highest consensual age to regulate it.
Yeah I think only the people going through this know what's right for them. Maybe it needs to be a case by case situation? So long as they have the right guidance and support that's really the best any government could do.
How old can a person be allowed to buy alcohol? They can vote, get married and drive a dangerous car long before that.
Up until Feb. 2023, it was legal to marry at age 16. Thus, ok to become a parent at 16. (It's changed to 18 in England/Wales, but still 16 in N.Ireland/Scotland.) You can still marry your first cousin in UK.
Sick more like .
Damn straight, these issues shouldn't even be a part of politics, what a joke.
What is this world turning into? You be woman and man this same time? Haba
Good to see Starmer speaking out against this madness.
Makes sense. Would be silly being able to be 16 and not legally get a tattoo but not be able to change your gender.
So true
Is he an expert, or?
A bit of common sense on this from a left wing politician. No doubt the usual mob of ultra woke radical trans activists will force him into a climb down on this sensible opinion. Absolutely no issues with an adult who makes a mature decision to change, but school age kids,no
Labour are absolutely determined to lose, what should be a slam dunk, at the next election.
Correct it definitely is.
Nutters
First thing he’s said I agree with. 18 at least!
First smart thing he’s ever said
Transphobe ....
Thank you Sir Keir_Starmer should be 18
Given LGBTQ+ Labour are currently gathering names in a campaign for the party to adopt a 'Transphobia Definition' (even though they can't define it), does this mean Keir Starmer's (and Rosie Duffield's, etc) cards have been marked - and days numbered?
You can't vote, you can't get a drink, and legally, you can't get married without your parents' consent... this available option makes absolutely no sense. The people driving this are irresponsible!
But not too young vote, ok to vote Reform or Conservative but not he or she !
The only thing i agree with him on
Does he still want to lower the voting age to 16 or was that a lie too?
What exactly is legal gender?
I agree with him for once
Totally right Keir………. The worlds gone mad……… All freaks
Has Keir_Starmer spoken to trans youth?
Ya think…?!!
clickbait headline, that's an inaccurate/dishonest account of his position.
Entirely agree. Kids should be able to explore their gender with a safety net. It’s confusing enough at that age.
Thanks for your valuable input Tory!
Any age is too young
People under 21 have always made great life choices. 🤥
Legal sex. They change legal sex.
About time! Now he needs to stop supporting MEN pretending to be women and going into women’s prisons and toilets! It’s still the Conservatives that have allowed this to continue so, they deserve the blame even if they ‘talk tough’
And too young to vote too.
I rarely agree with Starmer but I do on this one.
Agreed
It is exceptionally rare I agree with the Loony Liebor Loser Lesser, but on this I do, wholeheartedly
But not too young to die.. got it.
Finally some sense from Starmer on GRR - keep going and I might vote Labour again...
Shouldn’t be able to change gender at any age. Your born with your gender like it or not.
How did transgender people become this many, we need science to explain why the numbers are big. Could it be diet, weather 🤔🤔 ee need answers
Your born a bird or born a bee ffs enjoy your life
If you want to make it 18, fine. But make sure that it’s easy at 18, not making it hard for people who can struggle just living in their own body.
Hes really put his neck out there....an opinion! Well done Sir.
Not old enough to change your gender, but old enough to change your status from ‘alive’ to ‘dead’ for your country. Go figure.
Why are kids being influenced in schools with LGBTQ+ propaganda?
Can’t argue with that
I’m sure he’ll go for 16 year old voters though.
But the legal age of consent for sex, pregnancy and abortion is 16, right? Transphobia
So he or she can have sex and get married ?
It’s crazy
I want to cancel my TV licence! Can’t watch your woke crap anymore 🇬🇧
Comparing a decision about your identity with getting a job is nonsense. Most 16 year olds spend the vast majority of their time thinking about sex. Most 16 year olds know themselves. Adults deciding for them about their lives is not on. Empathise.
But a good age to vot?
this is stupid, why should i have to wait 2 extra years because some cis person said they know better than me
Amazing, when did Kier give up being a mediocre political hack and get a medical degree? Because if he hasn't he can STFU about medical decisions.
His changed his tune. Thought he was all for it🤔
It should be 21, which was the previous coming of age. Teenagers are too pliable in mind and still developing
Absolutely right.
Correct..leave the kids alone.
This is one of the few times I agree with the leader of the opposition !
16 is too young to make a decision which is irreversible. There should be a process to discuss such requests over say 24 mths; speaking to experts and other people who have gone through such surgery. Informed thought out decision to give the person the happiness they seek.
Simple answer is don't name the gender until they're 16 and let the kid decide as it seems the medical profession and the parents can't work it out
The prefrontal cortex of the brain isn’t fully developed until a person is 25. Expecting them to make this very big life decision 9 years before this could be seen as irresponsible.
Has he got any useful to say in regards to the economy, the cost of living crisis, the beaches being flooded with sewage or
Just stay in the closet.
I agree.
Yep 👍
Does that include Durham, seems to be different laws there ,doesn't it Keith Keir_Starmer
Nice move by Labour. This is not really about changing gender. People are trying to change their biological sex using drugs and operations when it is not physiologically possible for the human mammal to do so. It is all about falling into the trap of archaic gender stereotypes
Have everybody none binary until they are 18 then they can decide . Which toilets they want to use .
I cannot believe i actually agree with Keir Starmer
I see a number of people comparing this with joining the armed forces at 16. Why? That's a career decision. A whole different matter to a person's identity.
100% agree ! Way too young
The problem with Keir Starmer is hypocrisy. He forced Labour mps in Scotland to vote for the law. At age 16. Then to an English audience, when hes trying to be elected, all of a sudden '16 is too young' Despicable
Trans rights ... Anyone explain to me what rights they don't have that others have?
You cant change your DNA
Why are people comparing this momentous decision with joining the armed forces? Not comparable decisions !!
Vote him in and quickly
Sickening.
Endorsing a delusion only increases it.
👍
Kids can’t make life changing decisions when their hormones are naturally all over the place Of course 16 is too young, Too young to drink? Too young to change sex
I genuinely don’t understand why Labour are yet again trying to lose. The Tories are in complete disarray, yet Starmer seems perennially to want to outdo them.
If you're old enough to join the military and kill people for the country, you're old enough to decide your gender.
There is a mental health epidemic that should be addressed. How is it so many people are now so confused, they think they are somehow in the ‘wrong body’. Laws are being changed for 1% of the population. We need more money in therapy and counselling, not surgery
Another sop to the right wing media.
I joined the Royal Navy and served on my first warship when was still sixteen. I was responsible enough to be cannon fodder for the Country. But 16 yr olds are not allowed to update ID because it's icky & Starmer doesn't like young trans people - Or old ones, as he's with JKR
Agreed
RishiSunak why haven’t you stood up against this nonsense. Maybe Starmer is a better choice than weak Rishi
Meanwhile the long established approach of international human rights bodies says Starmer is wrong.
Wow! I find myself agreeing with UKLabour I must be going mad.
Change legal gender in any age is refused.
Agreed. Adult decision. Should be 18
Should be 21, kids don't know what they are these days, at least by 21 they might have half a chance. Snowflake world should not bow down to this
16 must be too young to come out as gay then to- on that theory 🤦🏻♀️
BBC loving this shite...
No I am with Kier on this one. Kids are being taught wrong aspects like being made sexualised before their adulthood and trans is wrong in my opinion before 16. Kids will regret it when they are older.
Keir starmer is too much of a Tory to be leader of the Labour Party but here we are anyway.
Any age is. Adam and eve not steve
Sex and Gender lol,i cannot Army/Vote now keep going :)
Yes somehow old enough to become a parent, with 24/7 responsibility for a tine, vulnerable human.
Its physical impossible to change your gender 🙄 what gender you are born..is the gender you will be at death.
He’s right.
I actually agree with him😮
That's fine, but make it so you have to fund it yourself.
You can't change gender in general I can't believe we are having this debate it's ridiculous!
Ok Keir, I’m starting to like you now
But old enough to enlist and get married with parental consent?
BBCPolitics Do people have a legal gender?
What is a women?
The most sensible thing he's ever said.
If you're old enough to join the army then you're old enough to change your gender
Research suggests the human brain is not fully formed until we are in our mid 20s. If true, this should have some bearing on when such decisions can be legally made and certainly influence when medical procedures can be undertaken. 🤔🤔🤔
Only the insane would contemplate the impossible anyway
Who pays for the drugs and the operation that they need🧐 At 16 they haven't paid a penny into the welfare system yet their operation is one of the most complex and expensive possible. Wait till their 25 and have matured enough to make that decision.
Yup. Of course.
I agree with him
I mean the person in question has the right to change it back if they wish so it's not a big deal. Coming out as Trans at 16 is very brave. I also appreciate the point Starmer is making. Better to have an open sensible conversation than trying to belittle or dehumanise people.
Any age……
vicderbyshire How many commenting here actually have a trans youngster or have even met one? What experience has Starmer got to allow him to have his view that he should interfere with what Scotland has done and with what the tiny number of families involved decide?
Agreed 👍
Has Keir_Starmer actually spoken to trans youth? BBCLauraK
Fucking hell, I agree with fence sitter
so too young to change gender but old enough to have legal consensual sex, join the military, ride a moped, leave home and live alone, get married…
Fortunately it isn't possible to change gender. You are born either male or female, and that's how you remain forever. None of this nonsense will ever change this fact.
Agreed
Change gender 😅 born a male your a male born a female your female it’s simple
Gender Ideology is bonkers.
Like putting on a new coat you can change gender now....apparently.
I wonder how all the people agreeing with this statement would fare if they were forced to live 2 years or longer with an ID of mismatching name and sex. None of them have done it, yet all of them want to force adolescents to go through this.
Endorsing a delusion only increases it.
Looking back how many of us regret the things we did when we didn't know any better. Waiting two years is nothing to a lifetime of regret. Protesting to mutilate children is sick. All should be put on the sex register for Grooming
Correct
For non permanent changes I don't think so. But I think there should be a cool down period before permanent changes are enacted.
My son came to me at 11 and said he was gay. He’s 18 now and in a great relationship with his girlfriend. I questioned him on if he still thought he was gay and his response was “nah when I said that dad it was just the in thing at the time”
Yep 👍
The stupidity! We're talking surgeries on kids, not about idk what. Since when is surgery, drugs a thing and not dangerous if you don't need it. Let kids develop. Someone said that you are not fully developed until you are 25. Until then support them, don't risk their lives.
Anyone who supports transgender children need to be charged with child abuse.
At 16 you don't even know what you want for your tea.
Personally I don’t believe you are able to make that kind of decision at such a young age. However children should be given every opportunity to express themselves without prejudice, just not in an Irreversible way.
But we say wrong for women to have female genital mutilation but we OK for other genders Odd; even if it to make them look like women. which they can't have; maybe none should have it done.
What sort of society have we created?
I don’t think anyone over the age of 21 would say they had the first clue about themselves until we’ll into their 20s. Certainly not the wisdom to make life changing decisions like this. truth
Starmer has found himself a tory dog whistle.
A pointless statement, given that, regardless of legality, it’s impossible to change your biological gender. 1st World Problems.
I'm all for people changing gender as they see fit. Just let us not be told they are changing sex. They also need to be called transwomen transmen, not men and women. There's a difference and a born woman or born man need to hold onto the definition of man and woman.
Yet we’re expected to give Shamima Begum sympathy and understanding because at 15 she was too young to understand what she was doing? They’re either old enough to make life changing decisions or they’re not, which is it?
How the fck does he know? ASK A FKN TRANS PERSON. GET TRANS PEOPLE INVOLVED.
It's too old to be playing pretend.
probles is trans pple & virtue signallers trying to shutdown any debate on the subject. If u don't agree to their exact opinion ur an evil Nazi robot. Heaven forbid they might be wrong & it could be a mental health issue. & that in supporting it are doing more damage. 1/2
16 is old enough to tax directly through pay without any say on how that tax is paid though. So the logic of the argument must be that until your old enough to vote you are not expected to pay direct tax?
Gender or sex? What’s the difference? Try defining gender without smuggling in sex. Sex is immutable there is no way you should be legally allowed to change it. What these people need is support via therapy for their dysmorphia.
But ok to join the army or have a baby?
To young but he believe 16yr olds are perfectly capable of understanding political reality and are capable to vote
If 16 is old enough to have sex, it is old enough to know your own gender.
Blimey. Captain Hindsight talking some sense for a change
Starmer's all out charge for the gammon vote
So it's not too young to decide who RUNS the Country? - Not too Young to JOIN the Armed Forces? - But too Young to decide what Gender they are! - the Word Hypocrite comes to mind - I will bring this up the next time anyone including YOU brings up lowering the VOTING AGE again!
No?
Is that’s the problem in this country? Ppl already forgotten , cost of living. Bills, rent, mortgage,climate change , health,economy, jobs these are the problems in this country ? Unbelievable, ppl are so crazy? Change the gender isn’t important right now? This country is worse
And he's right. Kids are too easily influenced and starting this too early can have dire consequences. If they wanna go pay for it then go ahead. Shouldn't waste NHS money on this IMO
End of the day your still a man with a dick
Starting to like Starmer..
Not too young to consent to sex though
Too spineless for anyone: Keir Starmer
About the only thing I'll agree with Beer Starmer.
Does he know what a woman is yet?
If it’s not an illness, and to be clear it’s not. Why is it payed for by the NHS.
Common sense. Should be 21
Yet not too young to enlist in the armed forces 🤔
Something coherent from him!
Switching gender should be age 21
Too young to Hulk..
Male.... female....... fixed it for you
Gender!..Try neuter..Or beyond opposites..