‘Trans women are women’, new Health Secretary said
‘Trans women are women’, new Health Secretary said
Pieter SnepvangersFri, May 15, 2026 at 7:52 PM UTC
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James Murray, the newly appointed Health Secretary, greets photographers as he arrives in Downing Street - Peter Nicholls/BESTPIX
The new Health Secretary has claimed that the definition of a woman is up for “debate” after arguing that trans women are women.
James Murray, a Starmerite minister chosen to replace Wes Streeting, previously said he defined women as “adult female and trans women”.
He said it was very important to have “this debate” in an unearthed interview in which he defended a transgender swimmer competing against female athletes.
On Friday night, the Conservatives raised concerns about Mr Murray’s appointment.
‘Clarity on biological sex is not optional’
Stuart Andrew, the shadow health secretary, told The Telegraph: “It is striking that the Health Secretary responsible for women’s healthcare appears unable to answer a basic question about biological sex.
“His role oversees maternity services, breast cancer screening, female hospital wards and the rules on single-sex spaces for patients and staff.
“These are serious issues that shape care and safeguarding across the NHS. Following the Supreme Court judgment, clarity on biological sex is not optional. The Health Secretary should be able to define a woman without implying it is up for debate.”
Sources told The Telegraph that Mr Murray’s view has since changed and that he is committed to protecting single-sex spaces in the health service.
In an interview with Talk TV in 2022, Mr Murray, who was then a shadow treasury minister, was repeatedly asked to define what a woman was.
He replied: “I believe that trans women are women.”
Julia Hartley-Brewer quizzed Mr Murray over his views on gender in a TalkTV interview
Mr Murray was then challenged over claims that women-only hospital wards have “biological men walking into them who simply claim that they are women”.
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The Labour MP said: “It’s sensitive for everyone involved, which is why I started my answer by saying it’s really important to take the heat out of this discussion and to have a calm discussion about what the law is and the decision that allows people to make.”
When asked whether he thought it was a “bit strange” that he was dictating to the female presenter what a woman was, Mr Murray said: “You asked me for my opinion and I’m setting out what a woman is, which as I said is an adult female and trans women.”
A source close to the Health Secretary said on Friday evening: “These comments were from four years ago. It’s safe to say James’s position has evolved since that interview.
“He really welcomed the Supreme Court ruling which made the law clear in this area and looks forward to upholding the new guidance that will be published on single-sex spaces”.
Mr Murray was promoted from Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Health Secretary on Thursday night, after Mr Streeting resigned from the Government.
Mr Murray will now be in charge of one of the largest government departments, with an annual budget of more than £200bn.
Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, prompted the discussion that Mr Murray weighed into - JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP
Among his list of challenges, he will need to oversee the protection of single-sex spaces in the NHS after the Government publishes its new guidance later this month.
Earlier this year, eight nurses from Darlington Memorial Hospital won an employment tribunal after a transgender colleague used their female changing room.
Mr Streeting had promised to meet the Darlington nurses after expressing his “incredible disappointment” that the NHS trust had “failed to respect [their] dignity”.
On Friday, Mr Murray refused to say whether the scheduled meeting would still go ahead after The Telegraph approached him for comment.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The Supreme Court ruling made clear in law that single-sex spaces based on biological sex must be protected and the Secretary of State expects all NHS service providers to follow the law.
“The Government will publish the guidance on single sex spaces as soon as possible. The NHS is for everyone. The Secretary of State is clear that NHS services should protect single sex-spaces based on biological sex while at the same time protecting the rights, dignity and safety of trans people.”
Source: “AOL Breaking”
