Trans rights activists take part in a protest against the ban on hormone blockers on April 20, 2024 in London (Picture: Getty Images)
A High Court ruling has found that a ban on puberty blockers introduced by the Tory government using emergency legislation was lawful.
Former health secretary Victoria Atkins made a decision to impose a so-called ‘banning order’ on puberty blockers, which suppress the natural production of sex hormones to delay puberty.
But this was challenged by campaign group TransActual, and a young person who cannot be named.
This challenge was dismissed by Mrs Justice Lang at the High Court today.
She said: ‘This decision required a complex and multi-factored predictive assessment, involving the application of clinical judgment and the weighing of competing risks and dangers, with which the court should be slow to interfere.’
The legislation prevents the prescription of such medication and restricts NHS provision to within clinical trials.
During the trial, both the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland defended the claim.
The legislation was brought in as an emergency by the Tories but the new health secretary Wes Streeting could make it permanent.
There are questions over whether the new health secretary Wes Streeting will introduce an indefinite ban (Picture: Getty Images)
Mr Streeting said he was ‘treading cautiously’ in his decision amid ‘lots of fear and anxiety’.
But he has faced criticism from within his own party, including members of Labour’s LGBT wing, who have concerns about an indefinite ban.
Mr Streeting, who is the MP for Ilford North, only won the seat by 528 votes over the party’s stance on the conflict in Gaza.
Following the ruling, he said: ‘I welcome the court’s decision today.
Latest London news
Man arrested after fatal house fire in east London
It’s been 14 years, so why are people still queuing for Dishoom?
What I Own: I purchased my £592,750 East London two-bed flat at 22
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk’s London news hub.
‘Children’s healthcare must be evidence-led.
‘Dr Cass’s review found there was insufficient evidence that puberty blockers are safe and effective for children with gender dysphoria and gender incongruence.
‘We must therefore act cautiously and with care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people.
‘I am working with NHS England to improve children’s gender identity services, and to setting up a clinical trial to establish the evidence on puberty blockers.
‘I want trans people in our country to feel safe, accepted, and able to live with freedom and dignity.’
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.