![David Tennant spoke out against Kemi Badenoch as he was honoured for his support for the trans community](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/politics/2024/06/25/TELEMMGLPICT000383312555_17193296682220_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq-IWLY18X4-CzgyIcjLEAj0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Kemi Badenoch brands David Tennant ‘rich, lefty, white male celebrity’ in trans row
Equalities minister says she ‘will not be silenced’ by men after Doctor Who actor says: ‘I just wish her to shut up’
![David Tennant spoke out against Kemi Badenoch as he was honoured for his support for the trans community](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/politics/2024/06/25/TELEMMGLPICT000383312555_17193296682220_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq-IWLY18X4-CzgyIcjLEAj0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Kemi Badenoch has criticised David Tennant after the actor said he wished she “did not exist any more” because of her views on women’s rights.
The Doctor Who star said he wanted Mrs Badenoch, considered a front-runner in a future Tory leadership contest, to “shut up” as he collected an accolade for being a celebrity ally at the British LGBT Awards. He was honoured for his support for the trans community.
But Mrs Badenoch, who has said she wants to ban trans women from women’s toilets and defend single-sex spaces, accused him of being a “rich, lefty, white male celebrity” who attacked her even though she was the only black woman in government.
The equalities minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.
“A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end. Tennant is one of Labour’s celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win.”
In his acceptance speech, Tennant said: “If I’m honest, I’m a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as they’re not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention, because it’s common sense, isn’t it?
“It is human decency. We shouldn’t live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist any more – I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up – whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this.
“I am thrilled to be here and to be a part of this night. Pride is very important in our house, it’s a family affair, we have skin in the game so this event tonight thrills me. It gives me hope, it gives me fire, it gives me energy and deep joy, and even if I feel I don’t really deserve this, I’m very pleased and very proud to be receiving it.”
On the British LGBT Awards website, the announcement of the winners described Tennant as “one of the LGBTQ+ community’s most fierce allies and supporters”.
Gender has become an election battleground, with the Conservatives accusing Labour of putting women’s rights at risk.
In her response to the actor’s comments, Mrs Badenoch added: “Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Don’t let the bigots and bullies win.”
Ms Duffield has been frozen out of Labour for months as the result of her belief that there are only two sexes and people cannot change between them.
At the start of his Labour leadership, Sir Keir Starmer said she had been wrong to say that only women have a cervix. He has since changed his view but said in April that he would not apologise to her, instead saying the pair “discuss a number of issues” and “get on very well”.
Labour also plans to make it easier for people to legally change their gender and has promised to bring in a ban on conversion therapy, which some senior doctors believe could prevent them from having meaningful conversations with children about whether they want to transition.
On Tuesday night, James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, weighed in on the row and demanded that Tennant apologise.
The Home Secretary wrote on X: “I’m not sure David understands the irony of trying to silence the voice of the most senior black female politician in the UK’s history, in the name of ‘defending’ a minority community. But I hope he sees why this is wrong and apologises.”
Last week, JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, accused the party of “abandoning” women and she would “struggle to support them” at the election over the party’s stance on trans issues.
The Harry Potter author has now offered to meet senior Labour figures on the condition that Angela Rayner, the deputy leader, apologises for endorsing a charter that described two organisations, Woman’s Place and the LGB Alliance, as “hate groups”.
The British LGBT Awards were founded in 2014 by activist Sarah Garrett, and are usually held at County Hall in central London.
Tennant played the Tenth Doctor between 2005 and 2010, returning last year to play the Fourteenth Doctor. He has appeared in series such as Broadchurch, Blackpool and Casanova, and was asl in The Goblet of Fire, the fourth of the Harry Potter films based on the books by Rowling.