A key opponent of the UK’s upcoming puberty blocker trial has hailed Northern Ireland’s decision to pull out, saying it validates the ethical objections to the drugs.

Psychotherapist James Esses said the move by Northern Irish health minister Mike Nesbitt had been “extremely heartening” and that he “hopes and prays” Wes Streeting, the UK health secretary, will “follow the lead of Northern Ireland”.

Meanwhile Alliance’s deputy leader said today that it had backed Mr Nesbitt’s decision to phase out the prescription of puberty blockers in 2024 on the basis that tests of the drugs would follow, but Mr Nesbitt has “not been true to his word” – and could now be “vulnerable to a legal challenge” as a result.

Puberty blockers were until recently prescribed to children who wanted to switch gender across the UK, including in Northern Ireland.

placeholder image — James Esses is behind a judicial review against the UK's trans drugs trial, and says he is 'heartened' that NI will not take part - at least until his case is resolved

They are seen as one of the main steps in what activists call “gender affirming care”, often followed by cross-sex hormones and surgery.

Baroness Hilary Cass, as part of her review into England’s youth gender services in 2024, found there was “remarkably weak” evidence that they have positive effects (causing them to phased out on the NHS), and recommended a trial.

One is now slated to go ahead involving around 220 children, but critics of transgenderism oppose this on the basis that children cannot meaningfully consent to such a life-altering decision (among other arguments).

Mr Esses launched his judicial review against the decision to proceed with the trial on February 6 (having been threatening to do so for months).

Then on February 13, the News Letter revealed that Mr Nesbitt was pausing Northern Ireland’s involvement in the trial, pending the outcome of that case, adding that “it became clear to me that the judicial review has chances of success”.

Asked whether he thinks health secretary Wes Streeting will halt the trial now in light of Mr Nesbitt’s surprise move, Mr Esses, who practices in England, told the News Letter: “I certainly hope so, as it underlines the significant ethical concerns that exist regarding this trial.

“Wes Streeting has been given every possible opportunity to back down on this but he continues to plough on.

"If he doesn’t safeguard children of his own accord, we will compel him to via our judicial review…

"Streeting continues to appear resolute when it comes to pushing forward with the trial, irrespective of the ethical concerns and public outcry.

"I hope and pray that he follows the lead of NI, but I’m not holding my breath.

“Giving children puberty blockers is worse than experimentation because we already know the significant harms, both physical and emotional, they cause. It is state-sponsored child abuse.”

The news outlet GB News meanwhile quoted him as saying: “It is such a shame that the UK is fractured on this issue, but extremely heartening to see the government in Northern Ireland take heed of our concerns.”

When the News Letter contacted the health ministry in London to ask whether it will pause the trial until a ruling is made on Mr Esses’ court case, it replied: “Medical care must always be based on solid evidence, and children’s safety must come first.

“The Cass Review recommended puberty-suppressing hormones should only be prescribed to under 18s for gender dysphoria as part of a research or clinical trial.

“This study, which includes a trial into puberty-suppressing hormones, will provide further evidence needed to inform any ongoing clinical use."

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster this afternoon, Alliance deputy Eoin Tennyson said: “If we rubbish the idea of clinical trials as 'experimental medicine', I think that'd be a real setback for our ability to develop drugs."

Asked why he thinks Mr Nesbitt reversed course and pulled Northern Ireland out of the UK trials, he said "I think this is more about an intra-party rivalry between a minister and his leader, and inter-unionist politics", in that he has been put “under pressure from the DUP”.

Mr Tennyson added that, back in 2024, Alliance backed his post-Cass Review ban on the drugs “on the basis that we were told by the health minister there would be access to a clinical trial… and he has not been true to his word”.

As a result of that decision, taken without consulting his Executive colleagues, Mr Nesbitt is “in very choppy water indeed” and “could be vulnerable to a legal challenge" said Mr Tennyson.

Mr Tennyson also said that "we [the Alliance Party] aren't being guided by ideology on these issues" and that “we have to always be guided by the scientific evidence and advice".

Alexa Moore of the Rainbow Project told the show that puberty blockers are “lifesaving care” for many people, and hit out at the “endless ferocious hostile debate that is predominantly focused on transgender young people who simply don't have a voice in these discussions”.