Gloucestershire

7 constituencies; 5/32 candidates in Gloucestershire replied to our emails.

 Tewkesbury – 0/5 candidates replied.

North Cotswolds – 1/5 candidates replied.

Paul Hodgkinson, Liberal Democrat, 0/4 Yes responses – Paul responded with, “I understand the concerns around this issue which some people have – and I hear first-hand those concerns including from some of my female friends in particular.

I am also concerned about giving puberty blockers to children – an issue as set out in the Cass review. 

Blanket rules are often tricky to implement when it comes to healthcare. Often it is about giving medical advice on a case-by-case basis as people mature at different rates. 

As a general rule in my view people can and should be making fundamental decisions about themselves when they reach adulthood. Beneath that age threshold the doctor or medical adviser must be making medical judgements based on their expertise and at all times it’s important to involve and engage with all the individual’s family so that they are included in the decision-making process regarding gender and any desired transition from one gender to another. 

I’m not a doctor – so it’s about respect for people and respect for the doctor’s expertise. 

Finally, I am always alert to any discrimination against LGBT people. As someone who is happily gay I experienced appalling discrimination in the 1980s which I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through. Fortunately, those days have mostly passed in this country for gay people but for those who are trans the same kind of discrimination is sadly present today. Therefore, the subject has to be dealt with sensitively and with respect to both the individual and their family.”

Cheltenham – 0/4 candidates replied.

Gloucester – 1/5 candidates replied.

Chris Farmer, Reform, 0/4 Yes responses – He wrote, “I am alarmed at the sexualisation of children in schools. I agree to protect young children from Trans Gender ideologies in schools.”

Forest of Dean – 0/5 candidates replied.

Stroud – 2/5 candidates replied.

Siobhan Baille, Conservative, 0/4 Yes responses – Siobhan said, “Please find below answers to your questions:
1. Yes
2. I would be interested to read the feedback from the consultation before I pledge to support this guidance. It has been well received by local schools as far as I am aware.
3. As above
4. Yes to safeguarding children being a priority at all times
As I am sure you can appreciate I am spending most of the daylight hours out campaigning and talking to people on the streets so please accept my apologies for the brief answers to the questions you have asked. As you may know from following my previous work I like to really think through and read up on issues before making decisions about what I support.

If I am fortunate enough to be re-elected to Stroud, I would be very happy to engage further with you about these matters as I believe they are very important. I have said publicly and privately that the foresight from the government to engage Dr Cass to complete a comprehensive review is extremely important. My parent friends, medical experts and teachers that I know feel the same. 

I think the report will naturally bring about changes in addition to steps that government will impose (should Conservatives govern – I cannot speak for the Labour party).”

Christopher Lester, Reform, 4/4 Yes responses – He wrote, “ It’s 4 yeses.”

South Cotswolds – 0/4 candidates replied.