logo
Reform council leader claimed circumcision leads to transgenderism

Reform council leader claimed circumcision leads to transgenderism

Times13-05-2025

A newly elected Reform UK council leader has angered a leading Jewish group by suggesting circumcision leads to transgenderism in children.
Sean Matthews, a former Royal protection officer, was pictured celebrating with the Reform deputy leader, Richard Tice, after being elected as leader of Lincolnshire county council last week.
Now Tice is facing questions after a post emerged, from 2022, in which Matthews appears to mock Jews and Muslims.
'It's no surprise that children want to remove their penises and become girls,' Matthews said in the now-deleted post. 'Most of their parents started the process shortly after birth, by chopping their foreskin off in the name of (insert deity).'
The comments were condemned by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), which said: 'Circumcision is a vital

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Councillor suspended from Labour over 'offensive' social media
Councillor suspended from Labour over 'offensive' social media

BBC News

time23 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Councillor suspended from Labour over 'offensive' social media

A Labour councillor has been suspended by his local party over social media posts he made more than a decade ago that were deemed racist and supportive of far-right activist Tommy UK highlighted "offensive" posts that they claimed had been made by Ben Westwick - a councillor at Basildon Council in leader Gavin Callaghan said he took the action against Westwick "after I was made aware of social media posts made... before he was elected in 2024".Westwick, who now sits as an independent councillor for Pitsea South East, has been contacted for comment by the BBC. A Twitter/X account belonging to Ben Westwick, which has not had any new posts since 2014, included posts such as one with a sexually explicit image and another that was racist against black people and that included a monkey 2012, his account tweeted "@EDLTrobinson tommy Robinson for prime minister". Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a far-right activist who founded the English Defence League (EDL) and has just been released from prison having served a sentence for contempt of said in a statement: "Whilst I accept that Ben was a young man when he posted these comments and that he has changed his views on a number of issues, I do not believe it is right for him to represent the Labour Party on the council at this time."The local Reform UK party has called for Westwick's "immediate resignation" based on what they call his "numerous offensive, racist, and deeply inappropriate comments made across his social media accounts".Having the whip removed means a politician is no longer obliged to vote with his party at council meetings. It also usually means an individual is suspended from the political party they are a member has been contacted by the BBC about Westwick's party there are two by-elections for Basildon Council due to take place over the next is in Wickford Park ward next Thursday, following the death of Wickford Independents' Dave Harrison, and one in St Martins ward on 17 July after Labour's Maryam Yaqub stood down earlier this month. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

China furious as UK warship passes by in patrol
China furious as UK warship passes by in patrol

The Independent

time26 minutes ago

  • The Independent

China furious as UK warship passes by in patrol

China 's military sharply criticised the passage of a British warship, HMS Spey, through the Taiwan Strait, labelling it a deliberate attempt to "cause trouble" and asserting the waterway constitutes Chinese waters. Britain's Royal Navy maintained the transit was a "routine navigation" conducted in full compliance with international law, aligning with Taiwan and the United States who consider the strait an international waterway. Taiwan's government welcomed the British warship's sailing, affirming its defence of freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te ordered heightened surveillance and intelligence efforts in response to increased Chinese military activities, including a report of 50 aircraft near the island. The incident occurs as China has stepped up military drills around Taiwan, and amid efforts by Britain and China to mend relations, with a potential visit by a British leader to Beijing later this year.

MPs back historic End of Life bill with slim majority
MPs back historic End of Life bill with slim majority

The Independent

time26 minutes ago

  • The Independent

MPs back historic End of Life bill with slim majority

& Kate Devlin The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has successfully passed its final stage in the House of Commons. The assisted dying bill was approved by a vote of 314 to 291, securing a narrow majority of 23, which marks a significant victory for its sponsor, Kim Leadbeater. This legislation is now set to advance to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, where it is expected to encounter more opposition. Proponents of the Bill, said that it provides terminally ill individuals with a choice in how they die and aims to alleviate prolonged suffering. Opponents voiced concerns regarding the adequacy of safeguards, the potential for private companies to profit from assisted dying services, and the risk to vulnerable individuals. Assisted dying set to be legalised as MPs back Kim Leadbeater's bill in historic vote

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store