Britain's first trans MP Katie Wallis appears in court accused of having a false passport
Former Conservative MP Katie Wallis of Cardiff, became the first openly transgender MP in the House of Commons in 2022.
Wallis, who was the MP for Bridgend in South Wales from 2019 to 2024, and was previously known as Dr Jamie Wallis, now uses female pronouns.
The 41-year-old appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Monday representing herself.
The charge was not read out in court, but the defendant previously appeared in Cardiff Magistrates' Court accused of having a false passport 'without reasonable excuse'.
Wallis was alleged to be in possession of the document in April 2022, while she was still serving as an MP.
Recorder, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, adjourned the hearing for Wallis to either seek legal representation or make an informed decision on representing herself.
The judge said: 'I'm going to adjourn this for a short period of time to enable you to decide whether you want to get at least some initial advice.'.
The charge was not read out in court, but Ms Wallis previously appeared in Cardiff Magistrates' Court accused of having a false passport 'without reasonable excuse (pictured today)
Wallis, who appeared in court wearing a pink jacket, was released on bail until the next hearing, which is scheduled for August 15.
Before becoming the first transgender MP in the UK, in 2019, Wallis was the first Conservative to win the South Wales seat of Bridgend since the 1980s.
Three years later, in March 2022, Wallis revealed she had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, saying she had 'felt this way since I was a very young child'.
Wallis announced she wanted to transition to be a woman, while also saying she had been raped, blackmailed, and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
In response, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Wallis's bravery, and politicians from across the political spectrum publicly expressed their support.
Last year, the former Tory MP didn't stand for re-election, putting her decision down to boundary changes while affirming it wasn't 'a case of being chased out locally'.
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