Rosie Duffield Forgoes Local Hustings Due to Ongoing Online Harassment
The Labour candidate defending single-sex spaces is running for the Canterbury seat on July 4.
A Labour General Election candidate, known for upholding women’s rights and female-only spaces, has announced that she will not be attending local hustings due to persistent trolling. Rosie Duffield, who is vying for the Canterbury seat on July 4, explained that the decision was made because a few individuals’ fixation has made her attendance impossible.
Ms. Duffield shared with The Times of London that she has spent £2,000 on bodyguards during her campaigning efforts. In a statement released recently, she expressed, “The continuous trolling, malice, and misrepresentation from certain individuals, which has escalated over the years and intensified during this election, is now impacting my sense of security and well-being.
As a result, I feel unable to focus on presenting the Labour Party’s manifesto commitments clearly.” A Labour Party spokesperson emphasized the importance of the right to campaign as a crucial aspect of British democracy.
“It is crucial for our democracy that prospective parliamentary candidates can campaign freely,” the spokesperson stated. “We firmly denounce any intimidation tactics towards candidates of any party.” Ms. Duffield opposes gender self-identification as she believes it threatens women’s rights to female-only spaces. She previously expressed feeling alienated by Labour leadership due to her views on trans issues.
Last month, Ms. Duffield revealed that party leader Sir Keir Starmer offered her no apology when they finally spoke after she mentioned not being engaged with for two and a half years. Sir Keir initially criticized her statement that “only women have a cervix,” but later acknowledged the biological accuracy of her statement and called for an end to toxic debates on gender on ITV’s “Good Morning Britain.”
These remarks prompted backlash from Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who accused Sir Keir of having a “brass neck.” Not long ago, an online troll making chilling threats against Ms. Rowling and Ms. Duffield avoided jail time.
The Labour Party has been contacted for a response.
