Angela Rayner says it 'doesn't matter' trans double rapist Isla Bryson has penis and 'respects' change of gender

Angela Rayner claimed it “doesn’t matter” that trans double rapist Isla Bryson has a penis.

The Labour deputy leader was asked whether the phrase “her penis” made sense as she discussed whether Bryson should have been put in a women’s prison.

The 31-year-old raped two women while identifying as a man, before being sent to Cornton Vale women’s prison near Stirling in a placement that caused public uproar.

“To be honest, I don’t think that particularly matters," she said speaking to the Sunday Times.

“I think people just want to see the human side of being compassionate for people, but also seek that reassurance around safe spaces.

“I don’t think those two things are incompatible.”

Rayner’s sentiments have sparked backlash, with Tory MP Nickie Aiken saying it renders the Labour deputy leader unfit for office.

She told The Sun: “It’s staggering that someone who wants to be Deputy PM Is unable to answer a question that any primary school child could standing on their head.

“Even though it’s amusing on the surface, it would be dangerous if these people got into power.”

The Labour Party has faced criticism over its stance on gender reform
Stefan Rousseau

Rayner argues that Bryson should not be allowed in a women’s jail as she is “at the very start of the process” of becoming a woman.

The 31-year-old began gender reassignment therapy in 2020, shortly after she was charged.

She said: "Well, that person’s identifying as a woman now. But they’re right at the beginning of a transition — that they believe is right for them, however, and that’s fine. We respect that.

"That doesn’t mean to say by respecting it you instantly say, OK, well, that person then goes into a vulnerable space.”

Asked whether Bryson was a woman when she raped her victims due to the fact that she claims to have known she was a woman since she was four, Rayner admitted she “doesn’t know”.

The Labour deputy leader added: “I don’t know what’s inside that person’s head.”

Rayner’s comments come after the 31-year-old rapist’s mother said she is “disgusted and heartbroken” by her son’s crimes.

Isla Bryson's mother claims her child never showed any sign of identifying a girl when younger
Andrew Milligan

Janet Bryson told the Sunday Mail that her child gave no indication of being transgender while growing up.

She said: “I don’t know why it took him until he was 29 to say he wanted to become a woman.

“But I understand why some people think it’s just a way of getting out of going to a male prison.

“My son never expressed any wish to me that he wanted to be a girl, dressed in any other way or ever asked to be called by any other name than Adam growing up.

“Never once, at the age of four or at any other age.

“I would understand it more if this had been something he had been doing for years but that’s just not the case.”

The Scottish Prison Service carried out an urgent review of the case and made recommendations on the management of transgender prisoners.

IslaBryson will be sentenced later this month.