JK Rowling warns politicians 'If you want women's votes, protect our rights' ahead of July 4 election
- Ms Rowling posted the message alongside a poster for Sex Matters' manifesto
JK Rowling issued a warning to politicians last night, declaring, 'If you want women's votes, protect our rights', amid fears the issue could cost parties the general election.
The Harry Potter children's author was joined by women's rights charity Sex Matters who called for politicians to 'stand up for single-sex services'.
And the Women's Rights Network said political parties must confirm that 'sex-based rights must be defended'.
Their intervention follows concerns the Labour Party would continue to push an agenda influenced by trans activists.
The publication of the landmark Cass Review into NHS England's gender identity services for children recently forced several Labour politicians into humiliating U-turns on their position.
Announcements by the Tory Government have shown a tougher approach to gender ideology, notably recent guidance for schools that outlined plans to ban teaching about gender identity.
![JK Rowling issued a warning to politicians, declaring 'if you want women's votes, protect our rights', amid fears the issue could cost parties the general election](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/23/00/85226657-13449597-image-a-32_1716420644210.jpg)
JK Rowling issued a warning to politicians, declaring 'if you want women's votes, protect our rights', amid fears the issue could cost parties the general election
![It follows concerns the Labour Party would continue to push an agenda influenced by trans activists (Pictured here is Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media in January 2021)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/23/00/85226425-13449597-image-a-30_1716420598093.jpg)
It follows concerns the Labour Party would continue to push an agenda influenced by trans activists (Pictured here is Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media in January 2021)
Ms Rowling posted the message on social media alongside a poster for Sex Matters' manifesto to politicians.
Maya Forstater, chief exec of Sex Matters, said: 'The next government must stand up for single-sex services. This means it has to know what a woman is, and be willing to say it.
'Standing up for single-sex services is not a political 'gotcha'; still less is it waging a 'culture war'. This is a serious, real-life issue for all women and girls.
'If politicians are too afraid to say clearly that they stand up for single-sex services and know that women are adult females, how can they be trusted to stand up for women's rights or for child safeguarding?
'Any party that wants to be in government must be clear that it won't destroy women's rights by bringing in gender self-ID, whether explicitly or by stealth, and that it won't destroy single-sex services by saying trans-identifying people can use the opposite sex's facilities or compete in the opposite sex's sports.'