Sunak Refuses To Say Sorry To Brianna's Father Despite Fierce Criticism Of Trans Jibe

Rishi Sunak has refused to apologise to Brianna Ghey's father and said it was "sad and wrong" to link his jibe about transgender people to the murdered teenager's case.

- Eleni Courea

The prime minister doubled down on his comments yesterday morning, saying it was "the worst of politics" to link them to the trans teenager's case.

Sunak has been urged to apologise after accusing the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, of having difficulty "defining a woman" at prime minister's questions on Wednesday. He made the remark after he was told by Starmer that Brianna's mother, Esther Ghey, was in the public gallery.

Brianna's father, Peter Spooner, said Sunak's comment was "dehumanising" and urged him to apologise. Brianna was lured to a park in Cheshire and murdered by two teenagers in February last year.

Sunak said: "Like everyone, I was completely shocked by Brianna's case. To have your child taken from you in such awful circumstances is almost impossible to come to terms with, and for Brianna's mum to talk with such empathy and compassion about that, I thought, was inspiring and it showed the very best of humanity. I've nothing but the most heartfelt sympathy for her entire family and friends.