Transgender treatments are driven by 'politics and ideology' and are 'experimental' with 'no evidence base', Tavistock Clinic whistlebower Marcus Evans tells YouTube talk show The Reaction

Transgender treatments are driven by 'politics and ideology', a whistleblower who helped expose misgivings at the controversial Tavistock Clinic believes.

In the wake of a damning new report into the field, consultant psychotherapist Marcus Evans, a former governor at the north London Clinic, told The Reaction hosts Sarah Vine and Andrew Pierce the treatment is 'experimental' with no 'evidence base'.

Dr Evans resigned in 2019 from the Tavistock after he and his wife spoke out, accusing the clinic of ignoring concerns staff had about the standard of care provided for children.

His comments come after a landmark review by Dr Hilary Cass which made 32 recommendations to overhaul NHS transgender treatments over fears for youngsters.

Dr Evans said: 'Why has it taken so long for this experimental treatment, which has got no evidence base to be thoroughly looked at, when serious senior clinicians have been raising concerns for about 18 years?

'The old approach was 'watchful waiting' where there is an evidence base, which says if you leave these kids and support them, they actually come to terms with these rather confusing and disturbing experiences called puberty.

'But it was jettisoned for political and ideological reasons, not for any research purposes.

'It very mistaken to immediately fit in with an ideal or belief without really exploring what is going on with these kids behind the scenes.'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Dr Cass's report, while campaigners against children being given puberty blockers said it was a return to 'common-sense decision making'.

Mr Pierce went as far as to call for criminal prosecutions.

He said: 'Well all I can say is at last we have a voice of sanity on NHS gender identity services for children.

'The outcome of a long-awaited review into NHS transgender treatment has been released - and has found that treatment was based on what the report's author calls 'remarkably weak evidence'.

'It is a fantastic report, 388 pages. What shocked me most was learning that in 2009, 50 young children were referred to the Gender Identity Development Service, mainly boys, and in 2020/21, 5,000. Did nobody think what on earth has happened?

'Having read this report, I think there should be criminal prosecutions because these drugs could have permanently damaged these kids.'

Dr Evans appeared on The Reaction, the Mail's hard-hitting weekly talkshow, as a special guest reacting to the report published yesterday by Dr Cass.

Ms Vine said: 'Nobody is suggesting that gender dysphoria is not a real thing, but what we are questioning is whether a teenager really had the capabilities to make such a life changing decision at that stage.

'What is really clear from the report is some clinical practitioners allowed ideology to influence their behaviour and override common sense.'

The Reaction is available every Wednesday on the Daily Mail's YouTube channel.