Kemi Badenoch vows to block NHS plans to hand puberty blockers to 11-year-olds

Kemi Badenoch has announced that the Conservatives will seek to block the NHS puberty blockers trial.

The Tory leader announced plans to table amendments to the Health Bill, which is currently progressing through the committee stage, following the MHRA's Friday decision to allow the controversial Pathways trial to resume.

Mrs Badenoch said: "Children must never be used as test subjects due to pressure from trans-activists and bureaucrats.

"The Government should halt the Pathways trial immediately. We already know the evidence for puberty blockers is weak. Yet ministers are pressing ahead with an experimental trial involving vulnerable children."

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She told the Telegraph: "When institutions fail to protect them, politicians have a duty to step in."

Ms Badenoch added: "If Labour refuses to stop this trial, I will ensure that the Conservatives will seek to amend the Health Bill to prevent it from going ahead."

The trial was suspended in February after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency identified concerns about "potentially significant" harm to participating children.

However, the regulator confirmed on Friday that revised protocols had been agreed, permitting the study to proceed.

The Pathways trial was established to investigate the effects of puberty-suppressing drugs on children experiencing gender dysphoria, following an indefinite prohibition on their routine prescription to under-18s.

Under the updated requirements, female participants must be at least 11 years old to take part, while male participants must be at least 12 years old.

Researchers at King's College London are scheduled to commence recruiting children from August 1, while campaigners pursue legal action alongside the parliamentary challenge.

James Esses, a therapist and gender-critical activist, together with the Bayswater Support Group and detransitioner Keira Bell, have been attempting to force an emergency injunction against the Government.

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A High Court hearing has been set for July 27 to consider their application, which would halt recruitment until their judicial review is concluded.

The campaigners have brought proceedings against the Department of Health and Social Care and the Health Research Authority, arguing that the ethical approval process for the trial "contained serious flaws".

Mr Esses told The Telegraph: "I always said from day one that our aim was to ensure that not a single child ended up ingesting this poison as part of the trial."

The indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under-18s was announced in December 2024 by then Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who described their previous use as a "scandal".

The Commission on Human Medicines had advised that the drugs presented "an unacceptable safety risk" to children.

Despite this prohibition, Mr Streeting permitted the Pathways trial to continue as it had been recommended by the Cass review to gather evidence on the drugs' side effects.

The Pathways research team stated on Friday that "their health and safety is paramount" when conducting studies involving young people.

A DHSC spokesman said: "The safety and wellbeing of young people is paramount. The MHRA has decided to strengthen and add additional safeguards for anyone who might take part in this trial.

"The review by Dr Hilary Cass concluded that not enough was known about the safety and efficacy of puberty-suppressing hormones. It is vital that decisions are based on clinical evidence.

"That is why the use of these hormones was paused and the trial set up to gather more data. The next steps for the trial will be set out in due course, subject to ongoing legal proceedings."

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