A Labour MP has slammed Wes Streeting over an “immoral” NHS clinical trial of puberty blockers, which they describe as a “shameful experiment on children”.
Jonathan Hinder, who represents Pendle and Clitheroe, joined forces with the Conservative MP Rebecca Paul to demand the Health Secretary intervene to stop the controversial Pathways study.
The trial, conducted by King’s College London, could enrol approximately 226 young people between the ages of 10 and nearly 16 who are questioning their gender identity.
Both parliamentarians have added their names to a cross-party letter coordinated by independent MP Rosie Duffield, with dozens of MPs and peers urging Mr Streeting to reconsider proceeding with the research programme.
In their joint newspaper piece, the MPs wrote: “Puberty can be a tough time for anyone. But what children need is support to accept their healthy bodies as they are, rather than being told their bodies are somehow ‘wrong’.”
They warned of severe long-term consequences for young participants, stating: “Puberty blockers will put them on the path to sterilisation, lack of sexual function, and needing medical treatment for life.”
The lawmakers emphasised that children cannot meaningfully agree to such interventions, writing: “All before they are old enough to know what is happening to them. No child can consent to this.”
Mr Hinder and Ms Paul described the children targeted by the trial as particularly vulnerable, noting many are grappling with their sexuality, are neurodivergent, or have experienced trauma.
Wes Streeting has been slammed over an ‘immoral’ NHS clinical trial of puberty blockers
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The cross-party letter to Mr Streeting warned that continuing with the trial represents a “dangerous mistake” for vulnerable young people.
Writing about the unusual political alliance, the MPs stated: “We know the man or woman on the street does not support this, and we have now come together with other MPs across the political spectrum to get this immoral experiment stopped.”
They added: “From Rupert Lowe to Rosie Duffield, there is probably no other political issue that we would all agree on.
“This is not about left or right. It is about right and wrong,” the pair stressed.
Labour MP Jonathan joined forces with Conservative MP Rebecca Paul to demand the Health Secretary intervene
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UK ParliamentThe Pathways trial was recommended by the Cass Review into children’s gender care, which concluded that research claiming to demonstrate benefits of puberty blockers for youngsters with gender dysphoria was of “poor” quality.
Mr Streeting has acknowledged his personal reservations about the treatment while defending his decision to proceed.
He told MPs: “Am I uncomfortable about puberty-suppressing hormones for this group of young people, for this particular conditions? Yes, I am, because of risks.”
The Health Secretary explained he felt obliged to follow clinical guidance despite his misgivings, stating it was his “responsibility to follow expert advice.”
The trial could enrol 226 young people between the ages of 10 and nearly 16 who are questioning their gender identity
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Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, condemned the research programme.
She said: “It is deeply immoral to experiment on hundreds more children when we haven’t yet gathered data on how those children who have already been given puberty blockers are doing in adulthood.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also written to Mr Streeting demanding the trial be halted “before more damage is done to children.”