Observer editor withdraws Julie Burchill article after admitting piece caused 'hurt and offence' Mr Mulholland said Miss Burchill's piece had been "an attempt to explore contentious issues." However, he admitted the Observer had "got it wrong" when deciding to publish the piece. "We have decided to withdraw from publication the Julie Burchill comment piece 'Transsexuals should cut it out'," he said. The piece was an attempt to explore contentious issues within what had become a highly-charged debate. The Observer is a paper which prides itself on ventilating difficult debates and airing challenging views. On this occasion we got it wrong and in light of the hurt and offence caused I apologise and have made the decision to withdraw the piece.  Miss Burchill said the reaction of the transsexual lobby to Miss Moore's piece reminded her "of those wretched inner-city kids who shoot another inner-city kid dead in a fast-food shop for not showing them enough "respect."" Liberal Democrat minister Lynne Featherstone, former Equalities Minister, yesterday called for Miss Burchill and Mr Mulholland to be sacked for what she described as the "disgusting rant" published in the Observer.