Sturgeon accused of 'moral cowardice' as she swerves parliamentary statement on gender ideology ruling
Nicola Sturgeon was accused of 'moral cowardice' after skipping a parliamentary statement on the Supreme Court 's emphatic rejection of her gender ideology.
The former First Minister was missing from the Holyrood chamber as MSPs returned from Easter recess to hear the Government respond to the landmark defeat.
She cast two votes online instead.
Ms Sturgeon, who found time to post a gym selfie of herself on Monday, has yet to comment on the judgment, despite claiming the issue was hugely important to her.
An SNP source said she was working on constituency business but refused to say if she was in her Glasgow Southside office or elsewhere.
Ms Sturgeon also pulled out of an event about children and young people in care - another subject she says is a personal mission.
She had been due to speak at the One Voice Summit in London on Thursday alongside ex-Tory minister Michael Gove.
After watching from the Holyrood gallery yesterday, former SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC said 'the author' of the SNP's gender mess should have been there and apologised to women.
Asked if it was 'moral cowardice' not to attend, Ms Cherry said: 'Yes, absolutely. She should have the courage of her convictions.
'If Nicola Sturgeon believes the Supreme Court got it wrong, she should come out and say so and explain why she thinks that. The silence, to my mind, is just redolent of cowardice.'
Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, added: 'She needs to take responsibility for her actions. She made an incredible mess, she caused huge divisions, and now she's turned tail and fled. It's despicable.'
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