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Opinion

‘No debate’ has damaged Welsh democracy

11 May 2024 7 minute read
A silent protest accompanied the talk given by First Minister Mark Drakeford at the Festival of Ideas in St David’s Cathedral last year.

Sarah Tanburn

Voices who do not follow the line of established, funded partners cannot gain audience with government.

Criticism of the pre-determined agenda is silenced.

Such suppression of dissent counts against any Welsh claims to inclusion and social justice and is a sore failing in a maturing social democracy.

It would not be hard to fix the structural failings. Groups funded to promote civic society must be accountable for plurality of opinions as well as diversity of representation.

Senedd members in all parties should speak with honesty and knowledge – and understand that a few individual anecdotes are not a substitute for longitudinal study. Civil servants preparing policy advice are expected to seek out a range of views and know what constitutes a robust evidence base.

Our elected representatives must remember that upholding the reality of sex is worthy of respect in a democratic society; further, our democracy rests on recognising and engaging with opposing stances. Inclusiveness is not a substitute for pluralism and the alternative to resolution is not amorphous kindness but authoritarianism.

Based on the evidence

‘No debate’ was the angry mantra for years. Questions about health care, education, candidature, lesbian erasure, or sport were all condemned. It was hateful to say that language such as ‘cervix-havers’ did not help communication about preventative interventions. Pointing out risks of injury or unfairness when male-bodied people join a women’s rugby team was said to deny trans women’s existence. We have moved on a little, not least thanks to the Scottish imbroglio, itself partly caused by SNP pursuit of gender self-identification.

People still argue about the specifics. Just last week Senedd finally debated the Cass Report into gender-related health care for young people. (You can read the report here.) It was commissioned by NHS England, but all such cases in Wales are referred to English services, so it is just as important for us.

I am not going to analyse Cass in detail. Plenty of others have done that. I commend the views of the British Medical Journal, which was unequivocal in its editorial, published the day after Cass’s report. The Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine also wrote about it here. Calls for ‘compassion’ which omit the basic scientific evidence (or lack of it) are misplaced: there is nothing compassionate or kind about promoting treatments which cause irreversible harm.

Instead, I want to talk about what the whole sorry saga illustrates about the state of Welsh democracy.

Two degrees

In a small country, people are often closely linked through schools, worship,  family ties and more. There are strengths to such webs, informing the friendliness and welcome which pervades so much of Wales. But – and it is a big but – not when it creates enclosed political elites, impenetrable to the outsider, the newcomer, or the dissenter.

In 2022, Dr Elin Royles (Aberystwyth) and Prof Paul Cheney (Cardiff) explored attempts to grow civil society from 1999’s devolution. (Their essay is in the collection ‘The Impact of Devolution in Wales’, which I reviewed here.) They looked at improvements in representation and presence in the corridors of power and the mechanisms WAG used, including funding for key communities historically excluded. They identified concerns about ‘increasing power inequalities between professionalised organisations with well-developed lobbying capability … and those with limited resources.’ Studies as early as 2012 asserted ‘institutional lethargy’ by Welsh Government relying on those organisations with whom they had close relationships rather than extending policy development and delivery beyond ‘the usual suspects’.

Royles and Cheney go on to explore the behaviour of those organisations, which from the beginning included Stonewall Cymru, in the face of Welsh Labour dominance. They state, ‘closeness of organisations to government heightens political patronage [and] risks …compromising their independence.’ Most significantly, their study shows that ‘informal, often intra-party, processes and networks were extremely important in engagement with government… creating insider and outsider organisations.’

Who knows whom?

This has directly affected sex and gender politics in Wales. Just three examples illustrate the point.

In 2021 Welsh Government set up an ‘Expert Panel’ to discuss their Plan to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and services. A Freedom of Information Request stated the ‘volunteers were drawn from discussions with LGBTQ+ organisations in Wales.’ The Chair, shown as ‘independent ‘in that response, was Chair of Pride Cymru for seven years and a Labour activist in her constituency. There was – crucially – no attempt to ensure diverse opinions.

Grassroots groups, notably Lesbian Gay & Bisexual Alliance Cymru (LGBAC), repeatedly asked to be involved, most recently just two months ago in response to a further statement by the Minister. These requests have been completely ignored or directed only to the public consultation.

In March, feminist organisation Merched Cymru published ‘Hung Out to Dry’, a detailed study of how schools approach gender questioning pupils. Their report should be studied by politicians, councillors, parents, and anyone concerned about how our schools teach sexuality and gender. So far, not one politician has asked to meet with them and discuss the issues.

Last week, the Senedd Committee on the Reform Bill heard evidence from Women’s Rights Network Wales about the stealthy introduction of selfID in the government’s proposals. It is startling to realise that this is the very first time a gender-critical group has been able to publicly engage with Senedd processes without picketing, abuse or ghosting.

Most egregiously, on 1 May, Jane Hutt was asked by that Reform Bill Committee whether she had consulted women’s groups with concerns. She covered herself by asserting engagement with ‘established networks’ – exactly those networks which have ejected women from hustings, refused meetings and insulted gender critical voices.

Many groups with concerns about the direction of travel by Welsh Government on these issues have found it impossible to participate in democratic processes. ‘Established networks’, Ms Hutt, are groups who tell you what you want to hear in exchange for continued funding.

 Both sides are not the same

It is disingenuous of Senedd members to talk as if the toxicity in this debate  was evenly distributed. It is women’s meetings which are barracked. It is lesbians and gay men speaking up for same-sex attraction who are vilified and abused. Parents, teachers, clinicians and others cannot protect in the best interests of those they care for. Time after time, it has been the expression of gender-critical views which have cost people their jobs. Yet those same views have been upheld in Court, mostly recently in the exemplary and aggravated damages awarded to Rachel Meade.

We do not hear about similar cases required by those arguing for selfID – because they do not happen. No-one is being hounded out of their work because they support basic human rights, or even for supporting gender self-identification. I do not accept that ‘misgendering’ is literal violence: not when the streets of Cardiff are regularly littered with stickers saying ‘Terfs get the Wall’  of ‘F-k off Terf Scum’.

Laziness or fear?

Constituents have been to their surgeries, written to Senedd members about specific measures, and even demonstrated at events. These efforts have been going on for over four years, to my certain knowledge. Those responsible, even the past and current First Minister, were aware of these issues long before the Cass Report was published.

In the Cass Report debate, Rhian Passmore called for all views to be represented in the Senedd. That would be a welcome change. Reflecting the general trend in Wales, most supporters of gender-critical groups are either Labour or nationalist, but today feel politically homeless, so simple partisan bashing helps nobody.

Yet groups such as Merched Cymru, Women’s Rights Network, LGBAC, Labour Women’s Declaration and Outspoken Women are not being invited to the table, not asked to be part of round tables and evidence sessions. Why do they find it impossible to access Ministers? Why are their cogent concerns ignored?

Charitably, perhaps Ministers do not have time to ensure they have heard all points of view. Or are too lazy to listen beyond the clamour made by Stonewall and its allies. Maybe they are simply scared -which would be a sorry admission for any lawmaker. Now is the time to come to the table.


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Ali Morris
Ali Morris
7 months ago

Great to see this important debate being covered. Welsh media has up to now almost totally ignored the truth of what’s been happening. Welsh labour ministers should be accountable for the way they’ve treated those groups who do not support their narrow minded anti women anti LGB rhetoric.

Steve George
Steve George
7 months ago

Excellent article.

B. Louise
B. Louise
7 months ago

It’s a circle jerk. It’s an interesting exercise to follow the money…

Jay
Jay
7 months ago

100% agree with this article. The Welsh Government constantly states it is “listening” – but the big question it to who? It’s not listening to the farmers, nor women, nor parents, nor the public at large (20mph speed limit) nor LGB. The arrogance to constantly lie to everyone who raises concerns – “we have consulted”, again WHO have they consulted? Would that be Stonewall running Wales? Isn’t a democracy about listening to ALL voices. The Welsh Government has become a dictatorship and the new Senedd Reform Bill is nothing but jobs for cronies, true democracy let’s the people vote for… Read more »

Cedwyn
Cedwyn
7 months ago

Well said. Illustrates the smug arrogance of the Welsh government. No wonder I’m beginning to experience buyers remorse with devolution. If by some miracle I knew 27 years ago that we’d have a First Minister and a Minister for Education – Education!! – boldly claiming that men can become women I’d have put a big fat X in the NO box.

Glwyo
Glwyo
7 months ago
Reply to  Cedwyn

A flawed Welsh government is better than no Welsh government. Don’t fall for the culture war memes, the reason they are promoted is to fool you into throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Cedwyn
Cedwyn
7 months ago
Reply to  Glwyo

It’s not a ‘culture war’. It’s about truth as opposed to this delusional gender ideology, which threatens the safety of women, the wellbeing of children, and the rights of lesbians & gays to choose according to same sex attraction.

Steve George
Steve George
7 months ago
Reply to  Glwyo

I consider myself a socialist, am an active trade unionist, and supporter of both devolution and independence. Please don’t assume that everyone who has concerns about this is some sort of gullible, right wing, anti-Welsh homphobe. Most who express concerns are firmly on the left, feminists and very often gay or lesbian themselves. Nor is it a niche issue. Freedom of thought and conscience should concern us all. As George Orwell wrote in 1984, ‘Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four.’ When I’m told I must believe (and say) that a man is really a… Read more »

Cedwyn
Cedwyn
7 months ago
Reply to  Glwyo

A tad patronising here Glwyo. It’s not a ‘culture war’. It’s about truth as opposed to this delusional gender ideology, which threatens the safety of women, the wellbeing of children, and the rights of lesbians & gays to choose according to same sex attraction. Y Gwir Yn Erbyn Y Byd.

PS – My previous reply mysteriously vanished. I hope this one doesn’t experience a similar fate.

Ben Doonan
Ben Doonan
7 months ago

Thank goodness someone has had the courage to stand up and say this. We live in a glorified one-party state with a complacent ruling elite who do what they want and then tell us it’s for our own good — and while they’re busy slapping themselves on the back for creating the most progressive nation in Europe, the health and education services are failing and the prospects of being able to earn a good living here in Wales are diminishing. I’ve always been a Labour voter but I’m not voting for them again this decade. We need to radically shake… Read more »

Matt
Matt
7 months ago

“ It is disingenuous of Senedd members to talk as if the toxicity in this debate was evenly distributed.” True. Only the gender critical movement has the backing of the owner of Twitter, the backing of billionaires, the explicit backing of the current and future UK government, the backing of the majority of print and TV media, Netflix comedians. Graham Lineham can tweet about killing trans supporters and get treated as a free speech hero, get a book deal and a stand-up comedy show paid for by GB News backers. Of course you won’t hear that the tweet ever existed… Read more »

Sarah Tanburn
Sarah Tanburn
7 months ago
Reply to  Matt

The point of this article is that when formulating policy and legislation that directly affects people in Wales, WG does not ensure it is hearing plurality of opinion within Wales. (Random views on social media platforms are not an adequate substitute, which does not mean I agree with the your insinuations.) Issues around the LGBTQ action plan are a glaring example but one might see similar patterns in other areas of policy, from assisted dying to forestry. That’s the challenge to Senedd I am concerned with in this article (and actually why I support expansion though I oppose the closed… Read more »

Jay
Jay
7 months ago
Reply to  Matt

Blimey Matt you really are a bit of a fantasist – what evidence do you have for such wild accusations? Go on now, don’t be shy, I look forward to seeing your fully evidence backed list.

Ben Doonan
Ben Doonan
7 months ago
Reply to  Matt

Well that’s a new spin, Matt. Always the victim, eh? What you really mean is that after a decade of being silenced (Stonewall: Transwomen are Women, No Debate) and banned from Twitter, Facebook and most social media platforms for upholding biological reality, and having to endure the insult of being told that men with autogynephilia (a fetish in which men get a sexual thrill from wearing women’s clothing) are women who should be allowed into lesbian events and women’s loos and changing rooms… After all this, common sense has slowly begun to return. Not because of our leaders, but because… Read more »

Susan
Susan
7 months ago
Reply to  Ben Doonan

“Transgender” is apparently the most popular porn search term these days. No deviant dudes in dresses in women’s toilets, that particular stream (just one strand of the many options including for the interested, “sissy”) of, *ahem* “entertainment” dries up. I often wonder what sort of men watch this, then inevitably conclude those attacking the biological realists (a.k.a. “gender critical”) are amongst them.

Susan
Susan
7 months ago
Reply to  Matt

Man says what, now?

Jen
Jen
7 months ago

Hi Matt
Are you the guy who tweets as Matthew or MonosoUpNorth? Busy today going for Rosie Duffield and J K Rowling. Still not answering the questions raised by Cass and her highly qualified and respected team.

Daf
Daf
7 months ago

This is a very well said version of something I am hearing a lot now. Welsh Government seems to be only engaging with the same handful of lobby groups and Welsh organisations that it funds. And which reflect its own views back to it. Almost as if getting funding was dependent on that. It is a very poor way to govern, and I think there is a big groundswell of opposition to this now. I also think there are big questions to be asked about the role of civil servants on the payroll of Welsh Government. A lot of people… Read more »

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