The SNP can't have it both ways. Some things are binary, actually
John Swinney, Scotland's First Minister, cannot have it both ways. In an interview this week he argued that he stands by the Equality Act and provision for single-sex spaces, even as his government is in court arguing that 'sex' in the Equality Act does not mean biological sex.
Since the scandalous tale of Sandie Peggie and Dr Upton recently peaked the nation, the Scottish National Party (SNP) has performed a less-than-impressive reverse ferret. Earlier today, Swinney dodged questions at FMQ, which is both bizarre and deeply shameful.
It was of course Nicola Sturgeon (supported by several other trans activists in both her own party and the Greens) who first claimed that introducing an amendment to the Gender Recognition Act to allow self-identification would neither conflict in any way with the rights of women and girls, nor compromise single-sex spaces and services. As the case of Isla Bryson soon showed, this was patently untrue.
If only they had listened to Scottish feminist activists including J. K. Rowling, Joanna Cherry (MP at the time) and other brave and principled politicians, they would never have voted it through. It was, however, always going to be implemented as though it were law, despite the fact that it isn't. Stonewall law has been in operation across the UK ever since many institutions (including political parties, the NHS and even police and other criminal justice agencies) became totally enamoured of the idea that 'trans women are women' and followed the 'no debate' dictate.
Feminist activists, representing women (who had most to lose) fought from the outset to convince Sturgeon and her acolytes that when men are allowed to claim to be women on a whim, women and girls are sacrificed to an ideology that is wholly harmful and completely offensive – not to mention unscientific.
Swinney is a spineless hypocrite, and women will never forget. He (and others in the SNP) stood by and allowed gender ideologues to pave the way for women's reputations, jobs and safety to be put at risk while Sandie Peggie – and no doubt many other women too – were forced to kowtow to these men as they invaded their spaces and jeopardised their sense of security. Convicted male sex offenders were placed in women's prisons – and when we objected, we were branded bigots and 'transphobes'.
Swinney could have apologised and admitted he was wrong; the fact that he has chosen not to will seal his fate.
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