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SNP has ‘capitulated' on trans rights, Mhairi Black claims

SNP has ‘capitulated' on trans rights, Mhairi Black claims

Telegraph25-07-2025
The SNP has 'capitulated' over trans rights, former MP Mhairi Black has claimed.
Ms Black, the former SNP Westminster deputy leader, quit the party as she criticised them for not being sufficiently Left-wing.
The Scottish Government is under pressure to ditch its controversial self-ID legislation following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally biologically women.
She is the latest name to quit SNP after Fergus Ewing announced he would stand as an independent at next year's Holyrood elections.
It comes amid reports of a party rebellion against John Swinney's leadership following the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election defeat to Labour.
Ms Black told The Herald newspaper: 'Basically, for a long time, I've not agreed with quite a few decisions that have been made.
'There have just been too many times when I've thought, 'I don't agree with what you've done there' or the decision or strategy that has been arrived at.'
She added: 'I thought the party could be doing better about Palestine as well.'
'The party needs to change a lot more'
The former MP said: 'If anything, I'm probably a bit more Left-wing than I have been. I don't think I have changed all that much. I feel like the party needs to change a lot more.'
Ms Black was catapulted into the political limelight when she was elected to Westminster at the age of just 20 and became the youngest MP since 1832.
She was elected as the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, ousting the former Labour cabinet secretary, Douglas Alexander, with her victory there coming as the SNP captured all but three of the seats in Scotland in the 2015 general election - the first since the independence vote in 2014.
She later became her party's deputy leader in the House of Commons when Stephen Flynn took over as group leader, but stepped down at the 2024 general election, blaming the 'toxic' environment at Westminster.
She was also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during her time at Westminster, saying previously that the condition was picked up after she became unwell with 'burn-out' during her time as an MP.
'A better, fairer Scotland'
An SNP spokesman said: 'The SNP is the largest political party in Scotland, united under John Swinney's vision of creating a better, fairer Scotland for everyone.
'After a year of disappointment and let-downs from the UK Labour Government, it's clear that real change will never come from Westminster and that independence is essential for a better future.'
It comes as Mr Swinney attempts to placate rebels by pledging to 'turn the heat up' on the UK Government to allow a second independence referendum.
It was reported in June that the First Minister risked facing a leadership challenge at the SNP conference in October unless he came up with a new strategy to achieve Scottish independence.
After taking over last year, Mr Swinney won praise for overseeing a recovery in the SNP's fortunes following the troubled final months of Nicola Sturgeon's premiership and Humza Yousaf's tenure.
However, grumbling about his leadership has increased since June's Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse Scottish Parliament by-election, when Labour pulled off a shock victory after the SNP's vote share fell.
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