UK Health Secretary James Murray reversed his previous position that trans women are women during an interview on BBC Radio 4 [1].
The shift in rhetoric from a senior cabinet member reflects a deepening political divide over gender identity and the role of biological definitions in public health policy.
Speaking on the Today programme on Sept. 5, 2026, Murray said he no longer agrees that trans women are women [1, 2]. He said that women cannot have penises, citing a reassessment of the issue and the principles of basic biology [1, 2].
This public reversal follows earlier statements in which Murray had supported the sentiment that trans women are women [1]. The change in position has drawn criticism from those who argue that such a fundamental shift in belief cannot happen overnight.
James Macpherson of Sky News Australia addressed the reversal, noting the contradiction between the secretary's past and present views. Macpherson said, "You can't just say that yesterday you believed women could have a penis but today you've decided they can't" [1].
Murray's comments come amid ongoing debates in the United Kingdom regarding the legal and medical definitions of womanhood. By anchoring his new position in biology, the Health Secretary aligns himself with a more restrictive definition of gender that excludes transgender women from the category of women [1, 2].
The timing of the announcement, reported on Sept. 6, 2026, places the Health Secretary at the center of a contentious cultural debate involving healthcare access, and legal protections for transgender individuals [1].
“"I no longer agree that trans women are women."”
This reversal signals a potential shift in how the UK government may approach health policy and legal definitions regarding gender. By prioritizing biological markers over gender identity, the Health Secretary may be laying the groundwork for policy changes that restrict access to gender-affirming care or alter the legal protections afforded to transgender women.
