Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken of his "uncontainable fury" after his niece and her wife were violently beaten in a homophobic attack for simply holding hands in public.
The Labour leader made the shocking revelation during an appearance on Pete Wicks's Man Made podcast, stating the incident has left him deeply concerned about the future of the country and growing "toxic division."
A Family Celebration Turns to Violence
Sir Keir recalled that his family's "first gay wedding" was a joyous occasion, celebrating his niece's marriage to her wife a few years ago. However, that happiness was shattered within a year of the ceremony.
"Within a year, my niece and her wife have been badly beaten up, in their own town, for holding hands by a group of blokes," the Prime Minister told the podcast host.
He described the visceral impact of seeing the aftermath: "My niece showed me the photographs – she had bruising and swelling to her face. And I was absolutely furious. Almost uncontainable fury." Starmer expressed his disbelief that such a brutal act could occur in modern Britain, stating, "The idea that blokes would beat a woman up for holding the hand of her wife. Now?"
A Disturbing National Trend
This personal tragedy for the Prime Minister's family is set against a backdrop of a deeply worrying national trend. Official figures reveal that anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes have been spiralling for years.
Specifically, hate crimes targeting sexual orientation saw a staggering increase of 462% between 2012 and 2023. While the most recent data from last year showed a slight 8% decrease to 22,839 recorded incidents, the number remains drastically higher than it was just five years ago.
This surge in violence and intolerance is a key reason why the UK has plummeted from its position as the most LGBTQ+ friendly country in Europe to 22nd place.
Government Stance and Campaigner Concerns
The Prime Minister's personal outrage contrasts with his government's perceived stance on broader LGBTQ+ issues, which campaigners cite as another major factor in the country's declining reputation.
Queer campaigners have repeatedly pointed to the government's response to trans rights as a significant problem. Sir Keir Starmer himself has faced criticism for flip-flopping on whether trans women are women.
Furthermore, in a blow to trans rights, he welcomed an April court ruling that defined 'woman' as referring to 'biological sex' under anti-discrimination law.
Adding to the concerns, a promised ban on conversion therapy – which Labour had previously pledged would be trans-inclusive – has yet to be drafted or put into law.
For the Prime Minister, the attack on his niece was a brutal awakening. "I thought the days of beating up people because they were gay were well behind us," he said. "I’m not being naive – I know it happens all the time – but it was brought home to me, my family, being shown to me on a phone in my sister’s living room."
