Reform UK's by-election candidate Matt Goodwin has faced backlash after unearthed YouTube footage showed him suggesting women should have children earlier. In a November 2024 clip, Goodwin said many women in Britain are having children 'much too late in life' and need a 'biological reality' check.
The comments, first reported by The Independent, have been condemned as 'deeply offensive' by Sarah Owen, chair of the Commons women and equalities committee. She said the remarks appeared to blame women for the declining birthrate and were hurtful to those with fertility issues, LGBT+ people, or women who cannot afford children.
Labour MP Natalie Fleet, who became pregnant at 15, accused Goodwin of promoting a 'Handmaid's Tale future'—a reference to Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel. In a separate podcast with Jordan Peterson, Goodwin agreed with claims that universities are full of 'childless women' contributing to 'politically correct authoritarianism'.
Goodwin previously suggested taxing childless people more, though Reform UK said he called for a 'grown-up debate' on supporting families. The Green and Labour candidates criticised his focus on divisive solutions rather than addressing real issues like cost of living and health inequalities.
Penny East of the Fawcett Society called the idea of telling young girls they have a moral obligation to have children early 'dystopian and deeply sexist'. Stella Creasy MP described the comments as 'alt right fantasies' about controlling women's fertility.
