Showbiz | Celebrity News I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice . JK Rowling has described as “nonsensical” past comments made by Anneliese Dodds on gender as the Labour MP was announced as part of the new Government’s women and equalities team.
The Harry Potter author has previously accused Labour of having “abandoned” her and others campaigning for women’s rights. Ms Rowling has become known as a fierce advocate for the rights of biological women after criticising Scottish Government proposals to introduce self-identification for transgender people. Ms Dodds was appointed as a minister of state for women and equalities on Monday, serving under Bridget Phillipson who has been made Minister for Women and Equalities.
Shortly after the announcement, Ms Rowling tweeted part of a transcript from an interview Ms Dodds had done on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour in 2022. According to the posted transcript, when asked for Labour’s definition of a woman, Ms Dodds said there are “different definitions legally around what a woman actually is” and, when pressed again, said: “I think it does depend what the context is.” Ms Rowling tweeted: “And if you happen to be wondering how I have the transcript of that Woman’s Hour to hand, it was sent to me by Dodds’ office after I publicly criticised her prevarication on the programme.
“They seemed to think I’d find her comments less nonsensical if I .
