𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Universal healthcare that is “free at the point of use” is something we as a country can be very proud of. Fast-forward 77 years, and the NHS is set to run a shameful experiment on children. Physically healthy kids, some as young as 8, will be injected with drugs commonly known as “puberty blockers”.

These drugs stop the child’s natural growth in an attempt to “correct” them, because they do not conform to sexist gender stereotypes – where boys like football and girls like Barbies. These children are often beginning to grapple with their sexuality, are neurodivergent, or are traumatised, so they are especially vulnerable. Puberty can be a tough time for anyone. But what children need is support to accept their healthy bodies as they are, rather than being told their bodies are somehow “wrong”.

Puberty blockers will put them on the path to sterilisation, lack of sexual function, and needing medical treatment for life. All before they are old enough to know what is happening to them. No child can consent to this.

We know the man or woman on the street does not support this, and we have now come together with other MPs across the political spectrum to get this immoral experiment stopped.

From Rupert Lowe to Rosie Duffield, there is probably no other political issue that we would all agree on. This is not about left or right. It is about right and wrong.

The Health Secretary himself has admitted that he is not “comfortable” with the trial. It is now incumbent upon him to act on his (correct) instincts.

Two thousand children have already taken puberty blockers over the last 15 years, so we can already assess the damaging impact of these drugs on children in the short and longer term.

The voters elect politicians to make decisions, not to pass the buck. Ministers must listen to a range of experts, consider the issue in the round, and then make a decision in the best interests of the British people.

Together, we are asking the Health Secretary to demonstrate that much-needed political leadership.