Jonathan Ashworth attempted to defend Sir Keir Starmer’s new health minister after she said “people can identify as llamas”.

Jonathan Ashworth leaped to the defence of the new health minister after she claimed anyone can identify as a llama.

Ashley Dalton, who represents West Lancashire, has been appointed to the Department of Health and Social Care following the sacking of Andrew Gwynne over offensive WhatsApp messages.

Back in 2016, before becoming an MP, Dalton argued that if someone identifies as a llama, people should “take them seriously” and “treat [them] with dignity and respect”.

The remark was discussed on GB News as presenter Ben Leo asked Ashworth what he thinks of the new health minister.

The former Labour MP responded: “She’s the public health minister and I’m sure she’ll do a very good job.”

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Jonathan Ashworth was lost for words as he was grilled on Ashley Dalton’s comments (Image: YouTube)

Addressing the llama comment, a stuttering Ashworth said: “I have no idea what the context is. I assume it’s a flippant remark but I can assure you that the Labour government’s policy is not that people can identify themselves as llamas if that is something they think they are.”

The new health minister is also a vocal proponent for trans people and has advocated for the complete abolition of gendered bathrooms.

Also in 2016, she argued in favour of people being able to “define their own gender and that society should be set up to support and not hinder that”.

She later tweeted: “Trans women are women. Don’t assume you know anything about their bodies or anyone else’s.”

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Dalton has been appointed as the new health minister (Image: Getty)

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Asked by Ellie Costello if Dalton is a good replacement for Gwynne, Ashworth responded: “Well, I mean, she’s a, er, a hard working MP for her constituency up there in Lancashire. I think she’ll be a perfectly good, hard working public health minister.”

GB News star Emma Webb interjected: “Bit of a problem to have a health minister who doesn’t believe in biological gender though, wouldn’t you say?”

Ashworth remained silent as Webb continued: “There are certain things within the Labour party’s thinking amongst its MPs that stick and are not too easy to route out. I think that this gender ID issue is one that ideologically seems to be quite entrenched.

“So even if Keir Starmer chooses to go whichever way the wind is blowing in terms of public opinion, I think it is still a problem that underneath the surface you do have people who have these anti-scientific, frankly ridiculous views.”