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A Labour Councillor in Exeter – Zoë Hughes – has quit her party and will now serve as an independent. In their resignation statement, Jones indicated that it was Labour’s position on trans rights that triggered the move.

Their statement read: “As a queer person, I have often felt alone and marginalised within society. However, I historically have felt that at least the Labour Party had my back – especially during Sir Ben Bradshaw’s many years as MP for Exeter.

“Hansard offers example after example of Ben’s staunch support as a vocal trans ally in the House of Commons, including to trans children. As an active member of the National Education Union, I took my responsibility as a teacher to protect trans and non-binary students very seriously.”

Jones continued by criticising Labour’s acceptance of the Cass Review’s recommendations on healthcare for trans children. They said: “The national party has ignored the mounting criticism of the Cass Review’s methodology, independence, and expertise by established and respected research centres and universities, medical professionals/organisations as well as LGBT+ and human rights’ groups.

“Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has nonetheless chosen to use this Conservative-commissioned document to make a grossly discriminatory decision that singles out and affects my younger trans siblings only (puberty blockers are still available on prescription for cis-gendered teenagers experiencing precocious puberty).”

“Ultimately, I will now have to witness increasing self-harm and deaths by suicide in an already vulnerable and marginalised group. This is not my kind of socialism.

“Trans people have always existed. Trans children have always existed. They have been in classrooms and in our communities for the whole 25 years that I have been an educator, and they have sat in front of me in my therapy office desperately trying to be seen by the world for who they really are. To deny them life affirming and, in many cases, lifesaving puberty blockers is a policy I refuse to stand by and accept. This is not a Labour Party of which I wish to be a part. We have let the LGBT+ community down and I want no part of it – there is no LGB without the T for me, it is that simple.”

Responding to Jones’ resignation, the Labour leader of Exeter City Council, Phil Bialyk, said: “I’m naturally disappointed that councillor Hughes felt they had to leave.

“I respect that decision, however, people should not underestimate the level of commitment required to be a councillor and to be a member of a political group.”