JK Rowling turned down a peerage twice – and wouldn’t accept it if it were offered again | Politics News

JK Rowling has revealed that she turned down two offers of a peerage and would not accept any if offered again.

The Harry Potter author made the revelation after Conservative leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch said she would offer Rowling a peerage after praising her for her contributions to the transgender debate.

Rowling posted on X: “It is considered rude to talk about this, but I will make an exception given the very particular circumstances.

“I have already refused a peerage twice, once under the Labor Party and once under the Conservative Party.

“If I was offered a third time, I still wouldn’t accept it.

“It’s not her, it’s me.”

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Rowling has been an outspoken figure in the gender debate, frequently advocating for protecting spaces for biological women and speaking out about trans issues in the sports industry.

The author was among those who welcomed Cass’s review into NHS children’s gender identity services, which led to NHS England ending the prescription of puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria.

Badenoch told the online streaming service Talk that Rowling and Dr. Hilary Cass, author of Cass’ review, were “attacked relentlessly by all kinds of cranks and bad people.”

The Conservative MP was then asked whether she would give Rowling a peerage.

She said: “I would accept it. I don’t know if she would accept it.

“I would certainly give her a peerage.”

Lady Cass was appointed to the House of Lords as an independent after being given a peerage by Conservative leader Rishi Sunak earlier this year.

Rowling, whose seven Harry Potter books were published between 1997 and 2007, did not say which Labor and Conservative prime ministers offered her a seat in the House of Lords.

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She openly supported the Labor Party under Gordon Brown, who is also a close friend, but was highly critical of the party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.

The author also raised concerns about the Labor Party’s stance on gender-related issues under Sir Keir Starmer.

Rowling had not previously spoken publicly about her views on the honors system, but said she did so this time to save her from being accused of being “right-wing” or being “disappointed about not having one (a peerage). because of their malignant intolerance. “.