Transgender women should not be competing in female sporting events, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told broadcasters on Wednesday.

Johnson was speaking as the country looked set to abandon plans to hold a flagship conference designed to promote LGBT+ rights around the world.

Charities and organisations are boycotting the event following a dispute over conversion therapy for transgender people.

"I don't think biological males should be competing in female sporting events. Maybe that's a controversial thing to say, but it just seems to me to be sensible," Johnson said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/players-must-keep-their-cool-in-return-leg-says-man-city-manager-pep-guardiola-after-1-0-win-vs-atletico-468814">Players must keep their cool in return leg, says Man City manager Pep Guardiola after 1-0 win vs Atletico</a>

"I also happen to think that women should have spaces -- whether it's in hospitals, prison or changing rooms -- which are dedicated to women. That's as far as my thinking has developed on this issue.

"If that puts me in conflict with some others, then we have got to work it all out. It doesn't mean I'm not immensely sympathetic to people who want to change gender, to transition and it's vital we give people the maximum love and support in making those decisions."

Transgender rights has become a hot talking point as sports seek to balance inclusivity with ensuring there is no unfair advantage.

Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges was ruled out of Britain's National Omnium Championships last weekend after the sport's governing body, the UCI, ruled she was ineligible.

British Cycling had cleared Bridges to take part under their "Transgender and Non-Binary Participation policy".

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentina-legend-diego-maradonas-hand-of-god-shirt-likely-to-fetch-523-million-at-auction-468875">Argentina legend Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' shirt likely to fetch $5.23 million at auction</a>

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics Games in Tokyo last year.

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas last month became the first transgender National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion in Division I history after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle.

Thomas competed on Pennsylvania's men's team for three years before transitioning and setting multiple programme records with the women's team, but her eligibility has come under considerable scrutiny.

The latest International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidance, updated in November last year, is that no athlete should be excluded from the competition on the grounds of a perceived unfair advantage due to gender.

Transgender women should not be competing in female sporting events, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told broadcasters on Wednesday. Johnson was speaking as the country looked set to abandon plans to hold a flagship conference designed to promote LGBT+ rights around the world.

Transgender women should not be competing in female sporting events, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told broadcasters on Wednesday. Johnson was speaking as the country looked set to abandon plans to hold a flagship conference designed to promote LGBT+ rights around the world. Charities and organisations are boycotting the event following a dispute over conversion therapy for transgender people. "I don't think biological males should be competing in female sporting events. Maybe that's a controversial thing to say, but it just seems to me to be sensible," Johnson said. ALSO READ: Players must keep their cool in return leg, says Man City manager Pep Guardiola after 1-0 win vs Atletico "I also happen to think that women should have spaces -- whether it's in hospitals, prison or changing rooms -- which are dedicated to women. That's as far as my thinking has developed on this issue. "If that puts me in conflict with some others, then we have got to work it all out. It doesn't mean I'm not immensely sympathetic to people who want to change gender, to transition and it's vital we give people the maximum love and support in making those decisions." Transgender rights has become a hot talking point as sports seek to balance inclusivity with ensuring there is no unfair advantage. Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges was ruled out of Britain's National Omnium Championships last weekend after the sport's governing body, the UCI, ruled she was ineligible. British Cycling had cleared Bridges to take part under their "Transgender and Non-Binary Participation policy". ALSO READ: Argentina legend Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' shirt likely to fetch $5.23 million at auction New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics Games in Tokyo last year. University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas last month became the first transgender National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion in Division I history after winning the women's 500-yard freestyle. Thomas competed on Pennsylvania's men's team for three years before transitioning and setting multiple programme records with the women's team, but her eligibility has come under considerable scrutiny. The latest International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidance, updated in November last year, is that no athlete should be excluded from the competition on the grounds of a perceived unfair advantage due to gender.

Transgender women should not compete in female sporting events, says British PM Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people to go back to work if they can. UK government said that it is now safe to return to work. Govt. asked people to help the economy recovery.

UK: Johnson urges people to return to work to help the economy recover

In a ceremony that marks a new parliament, Queen Elizabeth will read&nbsp;out&nbsp;the laws which the government wants the House of Commons to approve and will pinpoint&nbsp;Johnson's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/queen-elizabeth-to-set-out-pm-johnsons-agenda-on-thursday-268326">priorities</a>&nbsp;after winning a commanding majority at last week's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/uk-election-what-boris-johnsons-victory-means-for-britains-place-in-the-world-268495">national election</a>.

The prime minister, who won over many traditional supporters of the main opposition Labour Party in northern and central England, has proclaimed he will lead a "people's government" and will move to fulfil his pledge to "get&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;done".

The&nbsp;Queen's&nbsp;Speech&nbsp;will include new legislation needed to implement the future relationship&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;has promised to agree with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-stop-brexit-uks-johnson-gets-down-to-work-268636">EU</a> by the end of 2020. He plans to pass the laws needed to finalise the divorce agreement by Jan. 31.

He will also cement his commitment to spend more on&nbsp;Britain's&nbsp;much-loved but struggling <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/queen-elizabeth-to-set-out-pm-johnsons-agenda-on-thursday-268326">National&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Service</a> by prioritising legislation to guarantee funding increases, rising to an extra 33.9 billion pounds per year by 2023-24.

"The NHS is the single greatest institution in this country," he told a reception of&nbsp;health&nbsp;workers late on Wednesday. "We are now putting the biggest investment in the NHS in living memory. We have to keep that investment going."

On Tuesday,&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;told his top team of ministers that they "ain't seen nothing yet folks", warning them that there was much to do to pay back the trust offered his government in the election on Dec. 12 when he won a majority of 80.

After more than three years of debate over&nbsp;Brexit,&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;wants to move quickly to try to unite a country riven by disagreements over how, when or whether Britain should leave the EU. Towns, villages and even families have been fractured.

His aides say he is also determined to try to keep the support of those voters in northern and central England, many of whom voted for the governing Conservatives for the first time, by trying to make their lives better.

With a&nbsp;healthy majority, he should be able to fulfil his priority to "get&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;done" and is expected to announce that the divorce agreement, or Withdrawal Agreement Bill, is brought back to parliament before Christmas and then passed quickly.

He will also offer some insight into how he wants to tackle the domestic concerns highlighted in the election campaign.

Beyond increased funding for the NHS, he is also expected to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/uk-business-seeks-brexit-assurances-after-johnson-win-268132">outline measures</a> to strengthen the justice system, improve transport, better protect those people who rent their homes and kickstart talks to restore the government in Northern Ireland.

In a ceremony that marks a new parliament, Queen Elizabeth will read out the laws which the government wants the House of Commons to approve and will pinpoint Johnson's priorities after winning a commanding majority at last week's national election.

In a ceremony that marks a new parliament, Queen Elizabeth will read out the laws which the government wants the House of Commons to approve and will pinpoint Johnson's priorities after winning a commanding majority at last week's national election. The prime minister, who won over many traditional supporters of the main opposition Labour Party in northern and central England, has proclaimed he will lead a "people's government" and will move to fulfil his pledge to "get Brexit done". The Queen's Speech will include new legislation needed to implement the future relationship Johnson has promised to agree with the EU by the end of 2020. He plans to pass the laws needed to finalise the divorce agreement by Jan. 31. He will also cement his commitment to spend more on Britain's much-loved but struggling National Health Service by prioritising legislation to guarantee funding increases, rising to an extra 33.9 billion pounds per year by 2023-24. "The NHS is the single greatest institution in this country," he told a reception of health workers late on Wednesday. "We are now putting the biggest investment in the NHS in living memory. We have to keep that investment going." On Tuesday, Johnson told his top team of ministers that they "ain't seen nothing yet folks", warning them that there was much to do to pay back the trust offered his government in the election on Dec. 12 when he won a majority of 80. After more than three years of debate over Brexit, Johnson wants to move quickly to try to unite a country riven by disagreements over how, when or whether Britain should leave the EU. Towns, villages and even families have been fractured. His aides say he is also determined to try to keep the support of those voters in northern and central England, many of whom voted for the governing Conservatives for the first time, by trying to make their lives better. With a healthy majority, he should be able to fulfil his priority to "get Brexit done" and is expected to announce that the divorce agreement, or Withdrawal Agreement Bill, is brought back to parliament before Christmas and then passed quickly. He will also offer some insight into how he wants to tackle the domestic concerns highlighted in the election campaign. Beyond increased funding for the NHS, he is also expected to outline measures to strengthen the justice system, improve transport, better protect those people who rent their homes and kickstart talks to restore the government in Northern Ireland.

Brexit and health, Britain's Johnson sets out priorities in Queen's Speech

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 8th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 7th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 4th, 2019

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday, pitching a possible compromise for a last-minute exit deal that was cautiously welcomed by the EU though the two sides remain far apart. Watch this video to know more.

British PM Boris Johnson makes final Brexit offer

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to suspend parliament again from October 8. Watch this video to know more.

British PM Boris Johnson plans to suspend parliament again from October 8

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday he would not resign to avoid having to delay Brexit beyond the end of October. Watch this video to know more.

UK PM Johnson says he will not resign to avoid asking for Brexit delay

The European Commission's next chief is to unveil her new executive team on Tuesday that, from November 1, will take on a range of tricky challenges, from climate change to an unpredictable US and the Brexit aftermath.

President-elect Ursula von der Leyen will divulge the portfolios of her vice presidents and commissioners, drawn from each member state, minus Britain whose government wants to leave the bloc on October 31.

If her selection is approved by the European Parliament and<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-eu-commission-to-have-almost-as-many-women-as-men-248648"> EU leaders</a>, it will boast near gender parity, with 13 women and 14 men, meeting one of von der Leyen's key modernizing pledges.

The global issues they face will include the fight against climate change, trade wars, defending international institutions and defending Europe's commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

They will face headwinds from America, an ally seen by many as unreliable and isolationist under President Donald Trump, who is pressuring Europe on trade and for cracking down on the tax strategies of Silicon Valley giants.

Iran's shrink-back from the landmark nuclear deal it struck with world powers after America's exit, and more generally tensions across the Middle East as well as an assertive Turkey and a troublesome Russia also present foreign policy wildcards for Brussels.

And problems to confront within the European bloc include slowing growth, members such as Poland and Hungary spurning EU principles of solidarity and rule of law, and the populist current that is sustaining far-right politicians.

Mind the gap&nbsp;

Von der Leyen spent the last couple of weeks interviewing and vetting a list of candidates whose names were confirmed on Monday, though not their commission posts.

The first big drama they will likely star in will be Brexit, which, if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gets his way, will be effective from the first day of the new Commission.

Even if that is the case which is not entirely certain given fierce British parliamentary opposition to the no-deal Brexit that Johnson says he is willing to impose negotiations to work out Britain's relationship with the EU will drag on for years.

"Our working assumption is that Brexit will happen on the 31st of October," a European Commission spokeswoman said Monday.

With Brexit, the EU would also have to find a way to fill the budget gap left by the departure of the UK, a top-tier economy in the bloc.

Negotiations are under way for the next budget cycle covering 2021-27 and meant to amount to 1.28 trillion euros ($1.4 trillion), but remaining EU members are reticent to increase their contributions to cover the shortfall.

To spur growth in the EU, von der Leyen has vowed to ease the fiscal rectitude that has notably been the hallmark of her home country of Germany.

That issue has taken on added urgency with ominous signs of a possible global recession, or at least a pronounced slowdown not helped by the US-China trade war.

Von der Leyen, previously Germany's defence minister, will be able to call on experienced hands on her team.

They include former Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni and outgoing Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders.

There are also holdovers from the previous Commission Margrethe Vestager from Denmark and Phil Hogan from Ireland for instance, taking on new roles along with Commission vice president Frans Timmermans.

Political currents

Von der Leyen will also have to surf competing political currents within Europe.

That is why on Tuesday, attention will be focused on how she divvies up portfolios among the dominant political families, as well as among western and eastern EU states, and how her priorities will be reflected by the heft of each directorate.

On Monday, a source close to the Commission selection process acknowledged to AFP that von der Leyen has "some problems to work out" in configuring her team.

The traditional influence exerted by EU heavyweights France and Germany will also be scrutinized, especially as President Emmanuel Macron has been carving out a more pronounced global leadership role while Chancellor Angela Merkel is to bow off the political stage in 2021.

The European Commission's next chief is to unveil her new executive team on Tuesday that, from November 1, will take on a range of tricky challenges, from climate change to an unpredictable US and the Brexit aftermath.

The European Commission's next chief is to unveil her new executive team on Tuesday that, from November 1, will take on a range of tricky challenges, from climate change to an unpredictable US and the Brexit aftermath. President-elect Ursula von der Leyen will divulge the portfolios of her vice presidents and commissioners, drawn from each member state, minus Britain whose government wants to leave the bloc on October 31. If her selection is approved by the European Parliament and EU leaders, it will boast near gender parity, with 13 women and 14 men, meeting one of von der Leyen's key modernizing pledges. The global issues they face will include the fight against climate change, trade wars, defending international institutions and defending Europe's commitment to democracy and the rule of law. They will face headwinds from America, an ally seen by many as unreliable and isolationist under President Donald Trump, who is pressuring Europe on trade and for cracking down on the tax strategies of Silicon Valley giants. Iran's shrink-back from the landmark nuclear deal it struck with world powers after America's exit, and more generally tensions across the Middle East as well as an assertive Turkey and a troublesome Russia also present foreign policy wildcards for Brussels. And problems to confront within the European bloc include slowing growth, members such as Poland and Hungary spurning EU principles of solidarity and rule of law, and the populist current that is sustaining far-right politicians. Mind the gap Von der Leyen spent the last couple of weeks interviewing and vetting a list of candidates whose names were confirmed on Monday, though not their commission posts. The first big drama they will likely star in will be Brexit, which, if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gets his way, will be effective from the first day of the new Commission. Even if that is the case which is not entirely certain given fierce British parliamentary opposition to the no-deal Brexit that Johnson says he is willing to impose negotiations to work out Britain's relationship with the EU will drag on for years. "Our working assumption is that Brexit will happen on the 31st of October," a European Commission spokeswoman said Monday. With Brexit, the EU would also have to find a way to fill the budget gap left by the departure of the UK, a top-tier economy in the bloc. Negotiations are under way for the next budget cycle covering 2021-27 and meant to amount to 1.28 trillion euros ($1.4 trillion), but remaining EU members are reticent to increase their contributions to cover the shortfall. To spur growth in the EU, von der Leyen has vowed to ease the fiscal rectitude that has notably been the hallmark of her home country of Germany. That issue has taken on added urgency with ominous signs of a possible global recession, or at least a pronounced slowdown not helped by the US-China trade war. Von der Leyen, previously Germany's defence minister, will be able to call on experienced hands on her team. They include former Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni and outgoing Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders. There are also holdovers from the previous Commission Margrethe Vestager from Denmark and Phil Hogan from Ireland for instance, taking on new roles along with Commission vice president Frans Timmermans. Political currents Von der Leyen will also have to surf competing political currents within Europe. That is why on Tuesday, attention will be focused on how she divvies up portfolios among the dominant political families, as well as among western and eastern EU states, and how her priorities will be reflected by the heft of each directorate. On Monday, a source close to the Commission selection process acknowledged to AFP that von der Leyen has "some problems to work out" in configuring her team. The traditional influence exerted by EU heavyweights France and Germany will also be scrutinized, especially as President Emmanuel Macron has been carving out a more pronounced global leadership role while Chancellor Angela Merkel is to bow off the political stage in 2021.

Wildcards, headwinds as new European Commission executive to take over

British newspaper frontpages joined on Thursday (August 29) a heated debated about British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament. Watch this video to know more.

WION Dispatch: British newspapers' punning headlines mocks Boris Johnson

Here's How Boris Johnson Made A Fool Of Himself During His Visits To Berlin & France.

WION Gravitas: Boris Johnson; Britain's biggest embarrassment

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have taken a month to embark on his first trip abroad, but he was quick to make himself at home in President Emmanuel Macron's gilded palace, putting his feet up on the furniture. Watch this video to know more.

Boris Johnson puts his feet up in Macron's palace