Suzy Eddie Izzard blasts U.K. conservatives for manufacturing an anti-trans “culture war”

Suzy Eddie Izzard has accused UK conservatives of waging a politically motivated “culture war” against the country’s transgender community.

The British comedian, who in August announced her bid to become the next Labour Party Member of Parliament representing Brighton, attended the party’s conference in Liverpool this week. While there, she blasted members of the conservative Troy Party for ginning up anti-trans animus.

Related: Sam Smith speaks out for trans people as UK government increases attacks

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was the latest politician to attack trans people, saying they don’t exist.

“It’s the Tories’ culture war,” she told PoliticsJOE. “There is no culture war. It’s not there. As a trans person, it’s not there.”

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She described most people she encounters as accepting her identity, and accused conservative leaders of manufacturing anti-trans animus for political gain.

“They’re trying to divide and conquer. They’ve always tried to do that,” she explained. “‘Could we possibly get a culture war?’ You could hear the meeting in your mind of the Tories sitting down and saying: ‘We’ve got to stoke up people, keep saying culture war’. It’s not there.”

“There are people who are out and proud and positive, LGBTQ people have been coming out for years. I came out almost 40 years ago—40 years ago. How much notice do people need?” she added.

@politicsjoe