Ex-EastEnders actor Michael Cashman apologises to Rosie Duffield in trans rights row

Kemi Badenoch warned “intimidation and abuse” in Labour of its own candidate in a row over trans rights shows the party’s true colours.

Rosie Duffield, who is running for re-election in Canterbury, was publicly criticised for being “frit or lazy” by ex-Eastenders actor Michael Cashman after she called off local hustings over safety concerns.

Ms Badenoch warned if Labour allows attacks on its own people “imagine what they will do” the country.

She said: “I can’t imagine what it’s like being Rosie in a party where her own colleagues continually attack her, just for standing up for women.

“This is now about more than women’s rights, but how a party manages internal disagreement. Instead of healthy debate, it’s intimidation and abuse.

“If this is what they do to their own, imagine what they will do to our country.”

Ms Duffield took the “extremely difficult decision” to cancel local hustings because the “actions of a few fixated individuals” had affected her “sense of security and wellbeing”.

Labour peer Lord Cashman responded to her statement by accusing her of being “frit of lazy”.

After a backlash, he issued an apology, without using Ms Duffield’s name.

He said: “I apologise unreservedly for a post that I put out regarding the Labour candidate for Canterbury. I fully understand any complaints that will be sent to the Labour Party.”

Ms Duffield was forced to pull out of Labour’s autumn conference in 2021 after threats to her security after facing abuse for supporting a tweet saying only women have a cervix.

Sir Keir Starmer criticised Ms Duffield, saying the comment “is something that shouldn’t be said. It’s not right”.

The Labour leader backtracked in April this year saying: “Biologically, she of course is right about that.”

But Sir Keir faced criticism from JK Rowling after he called for an end to the “toxic” debate about gender.

The author said: “Male politicians who chose to pander to activists issuing violent threats against their own female MPs enabled and emboldened the toxic culture (Sir Keir) now claims to deplore.

“When you’re part of the cause, you’ve got some brass neck putting yourself forward as a cure.”

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who made a dramatic u-turn on his previously hardline stance over trans issues in April, criticised Lord Cashman’s comments.

He said: “That is extremely unfair and I was very concerned Rosie’s not able to participate in hustings and is having to change the way she behaves because of abuse.

“That is wholly intolerable and unacceptable, as is the abuse Nigel Farage has had.

“I count Michael and Rosie as friends and this is exactly the kind of division I’ve been working really hard to try and work through and heal.”