‘Divisive nonsense!’ Tory councillor sparks fury after slamming Labour for ‘not consulting trans and non-binary communities’ on public toilets
A London councillor has been accused of stirring up “divisive nonsense” after criticising his Labour-run council for not consulting “trans and non-binary communities” on some new public toilets.
The new loos – part of Westminster City Council’s modernisation scheme to freshen up the existing facilities – are set to be split into men’s and women’s toilets, and have large signs denoting as such.
But Ed Pitt Ford, a Conservative councillor and “LGBT+ Conservatives” member, sparked uproar by sharing images of the plans on social media.
Captioning his post, where the men’s and women’s signs are clearly visible, Pitt Ford took aim at the Labour-led authority for not going far enough to consult the transgender community.
He wrote: “I recently discovered that Labour-led Westminster City Council didn’t consult the trans and non-binary communities for the refurbishment plans for flagship public toilets at Piccadilly Circus, Embankment and Green Park.
“I urge them to consult non-cisgendered people going forward.”
His remarks immediately drew fury from social media users, with one, Brian Coleman, replying: “I – and I suspect 90 per cent of your voters – have no idea what ‘non-cisgendered people’ are… Are we in the same party?”
Pitt Ford replied with a link directing Coleman to the NHS’s “gender dysphoria” page.
MORE MADNESS IN LONDON:
Clarkson fumes ‘London is dying’ after ‘threatening’ ordeal in ‘deranged’ Khan’s capital‘It beggars belief!’ Sadiq Khan ABANDONS promise to investigate preacher adsMet Police officer sparks FURY after failing to admit Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation
He then attracted scorn from a swathe of public figures and campaign groups – with one, Tory MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell, saying: “I cannot believe what I am reading! Divisive nonsense!”
Conservative activist group Turning Point UK joined in, writing: “You’re meant to be a Conservative… You are a disgrace. Traitor.”
In response to the row, gender-critical groups have slammed the Tory councillor – labelling his choice of words “bizarre” and “virtue-signalling nonsense”.
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters told GB News: “When a politician starts talking about non-cisgendered people and non-binary communities, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“It’s virtue-signalling nonsense, and many people will have no idea what he’s talking about.
“Everyone is either male or female. If this local councillor thinks there should be a third, gender-neutral option for public toilets, he could say so.
“It’s not a bad idea, but you’d never know from this bizarre ideological language.”
GB News has approached Westminster City Council and Ed Pitt Ford for comment.