Tory leadership contender Kemi Badenoch says children cannot be transgender

Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are battling it out to become Tory leader (Image: Getty)

Tory leadership frontrunner Kemi Badenoch insisted children cannot be transgender and warned it was “critical” they are not allowed to make irreversible decisions.

The shadow cabinet minister said she “fundamentally disagreed” with the idea a child can be trans and suggested the phrase “gender-questioning” was more appropriate.

Facing questions from Mumsnet in the final days of the contest to become party leader, Ms Badenoch raised concerns about claims there are “24 different genders”.

“We have to make sure that we don’t lose touch with reality,” she said.

As Equalities Minister, she had been rewriting equalities laws so they specifically refer to biological sex rather than how someone chooses to identify but the election was called before the work was completed.

Ms Badenoch suggested there was a “huge overlap” between gay children with autism and those who describe themselves as transgender.

She added: “Looking at the purpose of what a gender recognition certificate means in 2024 I think is important.

“I also think that we should look at how a law that was made for adults is now being used for children, so I fundamentally disagree with the concept of a child being trans when the law talks about doing these things post-18. So I use the phrase ‘gender-questioning children’.”

Ms Badenoch is up against Robert Jenrick in the contest to lead the Conservative Party.

The results will be announced on Saturday following a four month contest triggered by Rishi Sunak’s decision to stand down following the historic election drubbing.

Tensions have increased in the final weeks of the contest, with Ms Badenoch questioning her opponent's “integrity” over the weekend.

Mr Jenrick said Ms Badenoch’s attack was a "mistake" and warned the party was not a Twitter account.

He told Times Radio: "I think it was a mistake by Kemi, because if there's one thing I've learned over the summer talking to Conservative Party members, it's this.

“They are sick of the drama. They want to end all these excuses. They want to stop the squabbling and the backbiting. They want the party to unite and to be a team.

“That is what I want to do. So I am not going to speak ill of fellow Conservatives. I think if we do that, that will be the end of the Conservative Party.

“I want us to actually come together, work together. And if my rival, you know, starts to deal with personal insults, that is because she doesn't really have any policies to talk about. And I want to be talking about policies.”