Harry Potter author speaks out after Duffield compares being in Labour to 'abusive relationship'
He told Times Radio on Tuesday that he was “really, really sad” to hear Ms Duffield describe being in the party as like abusive relationship. Sir Keir said Labour must have “respect and tolerance” in the face of differing opinions on the trans debate. Of course I know there are strong and differing opinions on a number of issues.” “And they’re the principles and the values that I want to see in our Labour Party and that I insist on in our Labour Party, whether it’s Rosie Duffield or anybody else,” Sir Keir added. “I’m very concerned that all of our discussions in the Labour party and in politics are discussions that we have with respect and with tolerance,” he told broadcasters on Monday. [Adam Forrest](/author/adam-forrest) Comments [JK Rowling](/topic/jk-rowling) has accused [Labour](/topic/labour) of failing to support MP [Rosie Duffield](/topic/rosie-duffield), who claims to have been “cold shouldered” by the party over her views on [transgender issues](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-government-first-minister-scotland-scottish-parliament-b2267398.html).
Author JK Rowling has defended Kent MP Rosie Duffield after leaked audio was published of a colleague criticising her.
Ms Duffield also responded to the leaked recording, which has been viewed more than 2.2 million times, by saying: "This is rumbling on. “And they’re the principles and the values that I want to see in our Labour party and that I insist on in our Labour party, whether it’s Rosie Duffield or anybody else. “There will be differences of opinion, of course there will, but respect and tolerance are the values that we must have in all those debates.” Responding to Ms Duffield's comments, leader Keir Starmer said: “I’m very concerned that all of our discussions in the Labour party and in politics are discussions that we have with respect and with tolerance. Recounting the incident in her article, Ms Duffield wrote: "I was defending the need to protect vulnerable women in single-sex spaces." But she says two of her Labour colleagues "traded sympathy for aggression by shouting down women in the chamber".
JK Rowling has launched a broadside at the Labour Party over its treatment of its MP Rosie Duffield - after it briefed against her over the weekend.
She said that 'while he was overheard loudly opining on my whereabouts and choice of friends', she was meeting people in her constituency. 'The placards that I have seen in absolutely no way, shape or form accord with my views and I would condemn the way in which those views were expressed and the views that were expressed there. rumours that might catch on. 'That said, I have attended many demonstrations over my many years in politics now and probably on all of them I've seen placards or signs that would not align with my views on the topic of the demonstration. Post-Corbyn, she was returned to parliament with an increased majority. This is how Labour repays her.'