Kezia Dugdale, incoming Stonewall chair, says sorry after backlash over JK Rowling remarks
The incoming chair of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall says she is “truly sorry” after she expressed “huge respect” for JK Rowling in an interview with the Guardian.Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of Scottish Labour, said she understood that her words had caused “worry, anger and upset and I am truly sorry about that”.In an interview for the Today in Focus podcast in Edinburgh to mark her appointment as Stonewall’s chair, Dugdale was asked what she thought of the way in which Rowling has talked about transgender people.She said: “I have a huge respect for JK Rowling.I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her before and I think her story and how she came to be this prolific, incredible children’s writer in this city as a single mum writing in a cafe is phenomenal and an inspiration.
”The Guardian then pointed out that many trans people feel the way in which Rowling has voiced her opinions on social media had become “cruel and dehumanising” and contributed to them feeling “unwelcome and unaccepted in society”.Dugdale continued: “I understand that, and I’ve also heard JK Rowling and other people who hold a different position on these issues to me describe with a similar rawness how they’ve experienced being opposed for their views.And I just think, you know, the days of these culture wars, about sitting in polar extremes from each other, should be behind us now.”She called for “generosity of spirit, a willingness to get into the grey area to talk about these things calmly”.The remarks prompted reaction from both trans advocates and gender-critical feminists.
In the National, the trans writer Steph Paton accused Dugdale of launching herself into her new role “with a commitment to making Stonewall even more toothless and irrelevant than it was already”,Kathleen Stock, a philosophy professor who resigned from the University of Sussex after being targeted by protests over her views on gender ideology, wrote in the Times that “the former Scottish Labour leader did the unthinkable and praised JK Rowling”,Responding to the backlash, Dugdale issued a statement saying: “In my first interview as incoming chair of Stonewall, I was asked a question about JK Rowling,In answering, I should have been absolutely unequivocal that I would never condone behaviour from anyone that seeks to or causes harm to anyone in our community,That is a red line for me and should be for all of us.
I understand the interview has caused worry, anger and upset and I am truly sorry about that.“In a world that is increasingly polarised and in which trans people have been under continuous attack for the last decade or more, I was excited to be appointed chair of Stonewall.I applied for the role because Stonewall works for the whole LGBTQ+ community.I would not have applied or have wanted to lead a charity that was not inclusive of the whole community because my feminism is and has always been trans-inclusive.”Dugdale takes over as chair in September from Ayla Holdom, who is transgender.
Holdom said: “Our commitment to trans equality is unwavering.Our values drive who we are and as a trans woman I will be handing over the baton to Kezia, confident in her steadfast commitment to trans and non-binary people and to working in partnership with other organisations to make progress for the whole LGBTQ+ community.”
US justice department drops criminal investigation against Jerome Powell
The US Department of Justice is dropping its criminal investigation against the Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, clearing the path for Donald Trump’s new nominee for chair to be confirmed.Jeanine Pirro, Trump’s appointed US attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a social media post that she had directed her office to close its investigation into renovations at the Fed headquarters that went over budget.“I have directed my office to close our investigation as the [inspector general’s office] undertakes this inquiry,” Pirro wrote. “Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so.”The investigation was first made public in January after Powell released a video announcing he had been subpoenaed by the justice department
UK eases airline penalties as jet fuel shortages threaten flights
Penalties on airlines that cancel UK flights because of jet fuel shortages have been eased, it has emerged, as the government issued fresh advice to reassure the public they can still fly and should stick to travel plans.Airlines that cancel owing to a lack of fuel will not lose their rights to valuable takeoff and landing slots at busy airports, which can be forfeited when flights fail to operate over a period.The change was one of the demands from airlines, which have been lobbying for government help in the face of rising fuel prices and a possible supply crisis.Exemptions from the “use it or lose it” rule can now be granted during shortages by Airport Coordination Limited, the independent body that manages slots at UK airports. The government said the change would allow carriers to “focus on minimising disruption” rather than flying to protect slots
TikTok and Visa launch debit card to speed payouts to UK creators
TikTok and Visa have launched a debit card for content creators in the UK which they say will allow people to quickly access their earnings from the platform.The creator card is designed for the growing numbers of people making money through TikTok Live, a livestreaming feature where creators receive virtual gifts from viewers that are later converted into cash.The two companies said the card, which links to a user’s creator account on TikTok, was designed to address cashflow issues faced by users who often wait days or weeks for payments to clear.Launched in 2020, TikTok Live is a section of the app where users can broadcast to viewers in real time. According to TikTok, more than 15 million people broadcasted via its platform in Europe in 2025
Officials hugely underestimated impact of AI datacentres on UK carbon emissions
The UK government vastly underestimated the climate impact of artificial intelligence, it has emerged, after officials raised their estimate of carbon emissions from AI by a factor of more than 100.According to new data quietly published this week, energy use by AI datacentres in the UK could cause the emission of up to 123m tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) – about as much as generated by 2.7 million people – over the next 10 years.That latest figure replaces a previous estimate – since deleted – that claimed emissions would reach a maximum of 0.142m tonnes of CO₂ in a single year
Atkinson made to wait as Essex impress at Oval: county cricket, day one – as it happened
The crowd spread on to the Oval outfield at lunch like a lapping wave, enjoying the picture-book day and entertained by Gus Atkinson’s first proper run out since the Boxing Day Test.Atkinson opened the bowling against Essex from the pavilion end, that now familiar toes-together, baby-steps approach, an opening spell on the money but he had to wait until after 6pm for his reward - Michael Pepper bowled tifter and boots. The pitch was friendly and Dean Elgar (92) and Paul Walter, with an excellent 101, duly tucked in, adding 183 for the first wicket. Surrey’s bowlers clawed back in the afternoon leaving the match evenly poised.Joe Root, too, was making his County Championship debut for the summer, Yorkshire cap pulled tight, scooping up a bread and butter edge from James Coles at first slip and trundling through five overs
It’s FA Cup and WCL semi-final time, plus mighty London Marathon feats – follow with us
Footballing Saturdays don’t come much bigger: an FA Cup semi-final, key clashes in the Premier League relegation battle, the hunt for European places, and a late game that will have a telling impact on the title race. In the Championship, with Millwall having played on Friday evening, Ipswich and Middlesbrough are running for the second automatic promotion spot. In League Two, MK Dons would be promoted with a win against Tranmere. So there’s no better place to start by joining Emillia Hawkins as she helms our unbeatable rolling football blog, offering breaking news and updates from around the grounds plus readers’ thoughts and queries. Why not join the conversation? Email matchday
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