Rosie Duffield’s ‘fried or lazy’ criticism is extremely unfair, says Wes Streeting

Wes Streeting has slammed a Labor colleague for calling Rosie Duffield “fried or lazy” after she canceled local election campaigns over security concerns.

Former EastEnders actor and Labor MEP Lord Cashman apologized after commenting on a social media post about Ms Duffield’s decision: “Frit. Or lazy.”

This came after Ms Duffield, a Labor general election candidate and advocate for women’s rights and women’s spaces, said her participation in local election campaigns was “impossible” due to “constant trolling “.

I apologize unreservedly for a post I made regarding the Labor candidate in Canterbury. I completely understand all the complaints that will be sent to the Labor Party. https://t.co/uqdkxrSpvd

—Michael Cashman ???️‍⚧️?️‍????????? (@mcashmanCBE) June 16, 2024

The Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, entered the controversy by accusing the Labor Party of “intimidation and abuse” against its own people.

Shadow Health Secretary Mr Streeting told Times Radio on Sunday: “I strongly disagree with Michael (Cashman).

“This is extremely unfair and I was very concerned that Rosie would not be able to take part in election campaigns and would have to change the way she behaves because of the abuse.

“This is completely intolerable and unacceptable, just like the abuse Nigel Farage suffered.

Ms Duffield, who is running for the Canterbury seat on July 4, said last week the “extremely difficult decision” to cancel local election campaigns had been taken because the “actions of a few obsessed individuals” had affected her “feeling of safety and well-being”.

She told The Times earlier in the week that she had spent £2,000 on bodyguards during her campaign.

Lord Cashman later wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “I apologize unreservedly for a message I made regarding the Labor candidate for Canterbury. I completely understand all the complaints that will be sent to the Labor Party.

The debate comes amid renewed focus on abuse of politicians on the eighth anniversary of Jo Cox’s murder.

His sister, Kim Leadbeater, condemned violence against candidates after Britain’s Reform leader Mr Farage was attacked, including with a milkshake.

The Labor candidate told Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge: “I think Jo, as well as myself and many others, would find some of this behavior completely and utterly unacceptable.

“Wherever you are on the political spectrum, whatever your views, there is no excuse for this abuse, intimidation and threatening behavior.”

Ms Duffield, who believes self-identification threatens women’s rights to access women-only spaces, previously claimed she had been given a cold shoulder by the Labor leadership because of her views on trans issues.

Ms Badenoch used the internal conflict within the Labor Party to warn voters against choosing the opposition party in elections.

The minister tweeted: “I can’t imagine what it’s like to be Rosie in a party where her own colleagues continually attack her, simply because she stands up for women.

“It’s now not just about women’s rights, but also about how a party handles internal disagreements. Instead of healthy debate, there is intimidation and abuse.

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