The Prime Minister has hailed the “bravery” of a Tory MP who revealed he is transgender and has been the victim of a £50,000 blackmail plot.
Conservative Jamie Wallis is the first UK member of Parliament to come out as trans.
The 37-year-old said that since being elected in 2019 he had been threatened and “outed” to family members because of their gender identity.
In a highly personal statement, the Bridgend MP also alleged he was raped in September last year and had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.
Boris Johnson said: “Sharing this very intimate story would have taken an immense amount of courage.
“Thank you for your bravery, which will undoubtedly support others. The Conservative Party I lead will always give you, and everyone else, the love and support you need to be yourself.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, he added: “The whole House will have read the statement and I know the House stands with you and we’ll give you the support that you need to live freely as yourself.”
Mr Wallis, who stated his preferred pronouns are he/his, released the statement after attending a dinner for Tory MPs at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster last night.
At the event, Mr Johnson reportedly made a joke about trans identities when he greeted guests and said: “Good evening ladies and gentleman, or as Keir Starmer would put it, people who are assigned female or male at birth.”
Mr Wallis said he had been well supported by the Tory party whips.
He added: “I’m trans. Or to be more accurate, I want to be. I’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I’ve felt this way since I was a very young child.
“I had no intention of ever sharing this with you. I always imagined I would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud. There was a close call in April 2020 when someone blackmailed me, outed me to my father and sent photographs to other family members.
“He wanted £50,000 to keep quiet. The police were so supportive and on this occasion the system worked.”
The MP said the offender was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after admitting his guilt.
Mr Wallis said an alleged rape in September 2021 had an affect on his mental health and contributed to him fleeing the scene of a car crash in November.
Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden said he was “proud” of his colleague.
“I hope that your brave statement will help others,” he added.
Confirming he would still use the he/his pronouns, Mr Wallis said: “It’s taken a long time for me to come to terms with my gender dysphoria. It is a deeply personal matter and I had hoped to continue to keep this private until after I had finished my term as the Member of Parliament for Bridgend.
“I am overwhelmed by the kindness and support I have received in the last few hours. I am proud to be completely open and honest about the struggles I have had, and continue to have, with my identity.
“However, I remain the same person I was yesterday. For the time being, I will continue to present as I always have and will use he/him/his pronouns.”
