Puberty-blocker drug firm donated cash to Lib Dems The Times 08.12.20

A pharmaceutical firm that markets drugs used in gender-identity clinics to delay puberty has given £100,000 to the Liberal Democrats.

Jo Swinson’s party has already upset feminists, who worry that the “extreme trans-ideological” policies in its manifesto will put vulnerable women at risk.

According to the Electoral Commission register, the Lib Dems received the payment on November 22 from Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

The firm, owned by the Swedish billionaire Frederik Paulsen, markets the drug triptorelin, which is used to block puberty among adolescents.

The Lib Dem manifesto pledges “complete reform of the Gender Recognition Act to remove the requirement for medical reports, scrap the fee and recognise non-binary gender identities”.

It also promises to “introduce an ‘X’ gender option on passports and extend equality law to cover gender identity and expression”.

It wants to “require schools to introduce gender-neutral uniform policies and break down outdated perceptions of gender appropriateness of certain subjects.”

Nicola Williams, of Fair Play for Women, a campaigning group, said: “Under Jo Swinson the Lib Dems now have the most extreme trans-ideological position at a time when the other main parties are pausing to consider the impact on women and children.”

Marcus Evans, who resigned earlier this year as a governor of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the NHS’s only gender identity service for children in England, described the donation as “worrying”.

He said: “Transgender people are vulnerable members of our society, but it seems to me that certain members of the trans community have got hold of the political agenda and their rights are being promoted at the expense of other people, such as vulnerable women.”

A Lib Dem spokesman said: “Ferring is a long-standing supporter of the Liberal Democrats. Party policy is determined by members via working groups and at party conference.”

Ferring did not respond to requests for comment.

@NicholasHellen