Yes yes yes by all means protect women’s rights, that’s important, yes indeed, BUT – first you gotta protect trans people, and then if there’s any protect left over, you can give that to women. Clear?

It’s the women and equalities minister again.

Bridget Phillipson has warned her critics that transgender people must not be used as a “political punchbag” amid accusations that she is blocking guidance on single-sex spaces.

The women and equalities minister’s comments come in the face of criticism that she is delaying the publication of the draft guidance, which was submitted to the government by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in September.

She’s told you: she has to read it first. That obviously takes way more than a mere five months.

Phillipson told the Political Currency podcast this week that her own experiences of running a women’s refuge informed her view of “how important it is that women have spaces that are women-only”.

She continued: “Feminists and campaigners fought for a very, very long time to establish that principle and it is an important principle, but it’s there for a good reason because it’s about safety for women and about having the space and the time to really heal after trauma.

“But I don’t see that as being in conflict with making sure you can treat trans people with dignity and respect as well. We have had the Supreme Court ruling, which I welcome.”

But it’s gone way beyond dignity and respect. It’s more like worship and submission.

“I’ve now received the code of practice from the EHRC. We’ve got to go through that properly and thoroughly.

“But in recent times trans people have been used as a political punchbag in order to make an argument. We’ve got to take a step back from this and do it responsibly.”

In order to make what argument?

It’s a good deal more the other way around: trans people use women as a punchbag, political and otherwise.

Phillipson said the “majority” of the public accepted the need for female-only provision, and that there were valid questions of “fairness” on issues including women’s sport.

She added: “I think that’s where the majority of people are but at the same time we’re a compassionate nation, commonsense in their approach. We don’t abuse or target trans people because of who they are, that’s not … in keeping with what people would believe.”

No, we don’t abuse or target trans people, but they abuse and target us. Check out India Willoughby and Sophie Molly and Sarah Jane Baker to name just a few.

“But you do need to make sure you’ve got fairness in areas like sport and good access for services for women.”

She says, grudgingly. Ok ok those stupid women want fairness in sports and “good access for services” – whatever that means – so they can have it, but then they need to sit down and shut up. Trans people are much more important, and, dare I say it, more interesting.