Andy Burnham said that

Andy Burnham has come under political pressure after past comments resurfaced in which he suggested that men who identify as women should be allowed to use women’s toilets, arguing that opposition to this view represents a small minority.

The remarks, made during a 2022 meeting with a youth advisory group, were obtained from leaked footage and have since sparked renewed debate about single-sex spaces and transgender rights.

Burnham said that most people who object to transgender women using female facilities represent a “minority view,” though he acknowledged that some concerns may come from women who have experienced male violence.

He also argued that instances of people deliberately misusing gender identity to access women-only spaces are extremely rare, warning against turning the issue into a divisive “culture war.”

The Greater Manchester mayor stressed that he supports trans rights, and said public debate on the issue is often exaggerated and used to create hostility between different groups.

His comments have been strongly criticized by opponents, who argue that protecting women’s privacy, dignity, and safety in single-sex spaces is widely supported and should not be dismissed as a fringe concern.

The controversy adds further scrutiny to Burnham’s political positioning as he considers a future leadership challenge, with critics saying his stance is out of step with public opinion on access to women-only spaces.