Esther McVey has fiercely criticised Keir Starmer's government for giving the green light to a puberty blocker trial involving 226 children, describing it as a woeful legacy and medical abuse. The trial, set to begin in August unless stopped by a legal challenge, will include girls as young as 11 and boys of 12 diagnosed with 'gender incongruence'—a condition based solely on a child's self-reported feelings, with no lab markers or blood tests.
Cass Review Raises Concerns
McVey highlighted that the Cass Review found the vast majority of children grow out of gender incongruence during adolescence. She argued that placing children on a path to radical surgery via puberty blockers is obscene, especially given the serious risks involved.
Medical Risks Ignored
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) halted the trial in February due to 'unquantified risks,' yet the Labour government pushed it through after hasty changes. McVey warned of irreversible damage to sexual function, bone health, and brain development, labelling the children as 'guinea pigs.'
Informed Consent Questioned
McVey questioned how a child as young as 11 can understand the lifelong consequences, noting that only one parent's consent is required. She referenced the case of Keira Bell, a lesbian child misdiagnosed with gender incongruence, who underwent puberty blockers, testosterone, and a double mastectomy before regretting the process.
Alternative Evidence Dismissed
McVey argued that the government could instead analyse data from the discredited Tavistock hospital or a Finnish study of over 2,000 adolescents, which found medical interventions did not reduce psychiatric problems and may worsen mental health. She concluded that allowing children to be used for research is abuse and must be stopped.
