logo
Green Maggie Chapman 'deselected' as Holyrood candidate after gender court ruling row

Green Maggie Chapman 'deselected' as Holyrood candidate after gender court ruling row

Daily Record21-07-2025
NEW: Chapman has been bumped to second place on the party's North East List.
A left wing Green MSP who accused judges of 'bigotry' over a court ruling on gender is facing an end to her Holyrood career.

Party members demoted Maggie Chapman to second place on the North East list rankings for next year's election.

A plot to bin Green moderates Patrick Harvie and Ross Greer has also failed.

Green members have voted to determine which party figures will top the eight lists for the next Holyrood election.
Of the seven serving MSPs, six have topped the List in their regions, but Chapman has been relegated after being the lead candidate in 2021.
She came behind Guy Ingerson, who reportedly made a complaint about her.

Chapman previously caused anger over a series of statements critics believed were ill-judged.
Following the Supreme Court 's ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex - a judgement that disappointed trans rights supporters - Chapman accused the judges of "bigotry, prejudice and hatred".
Her comments earned a rare rebuke from the Faculty of Advocates, whose dean Roddy Dunlop KC hit out at the "outrageous" remarks.

In 2023, Chapman was criticised after she said the Hamas terror attack on Israel which murdered 1300 people was a 'consequence of apartheid, of illegal occupation and of imperial aggression by the Israel state".
She later said she had caused "significant upset and anger for some" and deleted the post.
A party source said the Greens would not return two MSPs in the North East and predicted Chapman's Holyrood career is over due to being 'deselected'.
Left wingers in the party have also been behind plans to deselect Harvie and Greer as MSPs.
But Harvie has again topped the Glasgow List and Greer came first in the West of Scotland.
Former Minister Lorna Slater secured first place on the Edinburgh & Lothians East List, while Gillian Mackay did likewise in Central Scotland & Lothians West.

Slater, Mackay and Greer are also candidates in the current leadership contest for the Scottish Greens.
Slater, who remains one of two co-leaders, said of the list rankings: 'Next year's election is pivotal for the future of Scotland and our planet, that's why I am delighted that Scottish Green members have selected such a strong group of lead candidates who will deliver real change in Holyrood.
' Greens have been the only influential left-wing force in the Scottish Parliament for decades, delivering free bus travel for young people, scrapping peak rail fares, and securing tax reforms to ensure the richest in society pay their fair share to support the services we all rely on, like our NHS.
'With more Green MSPs, we can continue to push for the climate emergency to be taken seriously by other parties who want to protect corporate profits rather than our planet, and to fight back against the toxic climate change denialism from the far-right. Scottish Greens won't give up on our planet's future.
'Electing a record number of Scottish Greens is the only way to secure the pro-independence majority in Holyrood, and to continue advancing the case to rejoin the European Union. It is a cause that Scottish Green MSPs will continue to make on the doorsteps across the country and in the chamber at Holyrood.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump didn't push me to support new oil and gas drilling, Swinney says
Trump didn't push me to support new oil and gas drilling, Swinney says

Western Telegraph

time16 minutes ago

  • Western Telegraph

Trump didn't push me to support new oil and gas drilling, Swinney says

The SNP leader said the US President made his views clear during their dinner on Monday but did not actively press him to back fresh drilling in the North Sea. Mr Swinney said he was aware of Mr Trump's posts on his social media platform urging the UK to lower taxes and drill. US President Donald Trump played some golf at Trump International Golf Links, on the Menie Estate in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire (Jane Barlow/PA) On the last day of his five-day visit to Scotland, the American leader posted: 'North Sea Oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom. 'The taxes are so high, however, that it makes no sense. 'They have essentially told drillers and oil companies that, 'we don't want you'. 'Incentivize the drillers, fast. A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people!' Mr Swinney had dinner with the President who was flanked at the table at Trump MacLeod House & Lodge – named after Mr Trump's Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump – in the Menie estate alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Asked if the President pressed Mr Swinney to back new oil and gas licenses during the two-hour event, the First Minister said: 'He didn't. He didn't press me to do that. Trump had dinner with Keir Starmer and John Swinney on Monday evening (Jane Barlow/PA) 'He obviously expressed his view that there should be more oil and gas activity undertaken and I've seen material from the President this morning which raises issues about taxation, which of course, is not under my control. 'I don't have any influence over North Sea oil and gas taxation. 'Obviously the President made clear his view that he is not a supporter of wind turbines and I expressed the view that we have about our energy priorities on renewable energy.' Mr Trump landed in Prestwick on Friday on Air Force One before travelling to his golf course in Turnberry, South Ayrshire. On Monday, he and the Prime Minister were transported by Marine One to his golf course in Menie. He opened up The New Course there on Tuesday shortly before leaving for Washington. Mr Swinney had dinner with Mr Trump for around two hours where the First Minister made the case for exempting Scotch whisky from US tariffs, while a shorter discussion on Tuesday morning focused on what Mr Swinney said was the 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Gaza. During his trip – his first since 2023 and first since winning re-election – Mr Trump repeatedly referred to Aberdeen as 'the oil capital of Europe'. The US President campaigned on 'drill baby drill' during his election campaign last year. He has been outspoken in his dislike of 'windmills', having taken the Scottish Government to court over an offshore wind farm near his Aberdeenshire estate. Mr Trump said Scotland had the 'ugliest windmills I've ever seen', describing them as 'ugly monsters' that were 'destroying the beauty' of the country. Donald Trump has urged the UK to extract more oil from the North Sea (Andrew Milligan/PA) 'Wind is a disaster,' Mr Trump said. 'Wind is the most expensive form of energy. 'When we go to Aberdeen you'll see some of the ugliest windmills you've ever seen. 'They're the height of a 50-storey building. 'You could take 1,000 times more energy from a hole in the ground. It's called oil and gas, and you have it in the North Sea. 'You are paying in Scotland, and the UK, and all over place, where they gave them massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place.'

Trump imitates James Bond star as he praises Sean Connery's support for his new golf course
Trump imitates James Bond star as he praises Sean Connery's support for his new golf course

The Independent

time16 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Trump imitates James Bond star as he praises Sean Connery's support for his new golf course

Donald Trump has thanked an unlikely ally for supporting plans for his new golf course during the official opening at his Aberdeenshire resort. The US president did a lacklustre impression of James Bond star Sir Sean Connery 's accent as he addressed guests and the media from the Scottish resort. Referring to difficulties getting the new site approved, Mr Trump said: 'This has been an unbelievable development. "The land, they said it couldn't get zoned, it was an impossibility. "And Sean Connery said 'let the bloody bloke build his golf course'. Once he said that everything came into line.' Mr Trump previously paid tribute to the late Sir Sean after his passing in 2020, saying: 'The legendary actor, 007 Sean Connery, has past (sic) on to even greener fairways. He was quite a guy, and a tough character. I was having a very hard time getting approvals for a big development in Scotland when Sean stepped in and shouted, 'Let him build the damn thing'. 'That was all I needed, everything went swimmingly from there. He was so highly regarded & respected in Scotland and beyond that years of future turmoil was avoided. Sean was a great actor and an even greater man. Sincere condolences to his family!' This is not the first time President Trump has suggested Sir Sean had been influential in getting approval for the new development, although doubts have been raised about the veracity of the claims. In 2008 Connery is reported to have said of the development: 'During tough economic times, this is a major vote of confidence in Scotland's tourist industry and our ability to rise to the challenge. I look forward to seeing a new gem in the north-east that is good for Aberdeenshire and good for Scotland.' But Aberdeenshire councillor Martin Ford, who was chair of the planning committee that initially refused Trump's application to build the resort, told the Guardian: 'Mr Connery was not involved in the due process that led to the granting of planning permission for a golf resort at Menie. He did not submit a letter of representation to the council, appear at the planning hearing, or at the public local inquiry.' Ford added: 'Opinions offered in press articles are not material considerations in decisions on planning applications.' Mr Trump said he discussed Sir Sean's support for the golf course with Scottish first minister John Swinney on Monday night, as the two attended a private dinner. They then met more formally on Tuesday ahead of the opening ceremony for the course. At Tuesday's meeting Mr Swinney raised the plight of Gazans with the US president, pleading for Mr Trump to do more to support those suffering from malnourishment. At the launch of the golf course, Mr Trump said he is "working together" with Israel "to try and get things straightened out" in Gaza amid warnings of severe mass starvation in the enclave. After opening his new golf course in Menie, Aberdeenshire, a reporter from the crowd asked the US president "what will you say next to Benjamin Netanyahu", the prime minister of Israel. "We're working together to try and get things straightened out," Mr Trump said. Earlier during his speech at the course, the US leader said he would fly back to Washington to "put out fires all over the world". Mr Trump's meeting with Mr Swinney came after he spent the day with Sir Keir Starmer, taking more than an hour of media questions alongside the prime minister. The president, seen as one of Israel's strongest supporters, signalled the United States would not object to such a move – giving Sir Keir the green light as pressure mounts on him politically to follow Emmanuel Macron, who last week announced France would do so. In an apparent shift in US backing for Israel, the president also expressed his concern at images and reports of children starving in Gaza, as a ground blockade means only very limited aid is getting through. And he joined calls for Benjamin Netanyahu to soften his tactics in Gaza, saying the Israeli PM 'may have to do it a different way'.

King Charles left 'appalled' by Trump comment as aides warn he may break royal protocol
King Charles left 'appalled' by Trump comment as aides warn he may break royal protocol

Daily Record

time17 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

King Charles left 'appalled' by Trump comment as aides warn he may break royal protocol

King Charles is due to meet with US President Trump during his second state visit to the UK in September but is reportedly feeling "concerned" about their reunion. King Charles is said to be "very concerned" that US President Donald Trump may launch into a huge rant about immigration during his second state visit to the UK in September, according to an insider. The claim comes shortly after Trump sent Prime Minister Keir Starmer some "advice" regarding the ongoing small boat crisis. ‌ During his private visit to Scotland, the US President warned the Prime Minister that those coming across on dinghies are "bad people", but praised efforts to end crossings. After touching down in Scotland on Friday, the 79-year-old made headlines after he declared that illegal migration is a "horrible invasion" that is "killing Europe". ‌ Civil servants have now issued warnings that he may break protocol and make politicised comments during his visit to England in a few weeks. Trump is set to deliver the traditional speech at the state banquet held in his honour by the King and Queen when he arrives, the Express reports. ‌ A source close to the monarch told the Daily Beast: "Charles has spent his entire life promoting tolerance and compassion. "He will be appalled by what Trump said on Friday, which seems to be entirely driven by his domestic agenda, and will be very concerned about the possibility of a repeat of Trump's outburst in September." ‌ The insider added that royal aides are concerned the US president may provide an impromptu interview to the media with political statements, which could put King Charles in a difficult position. They said: "If Trump starts sounding off about the evils of immigration to the cameras while the King is standing next to him, the King would find that hard to take." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. ‌ Trump met with First Minister John Swinney earlier today on July 29 as his four-day visit to Scotland draws to a close. The two leaders reportedly held talks on the president's Balmedie Estate earlier for between 15 and 20 minutes, the BBC reports. A senior Scottish Government insider said that whisky tariffs and the situation in Gaza were among the topics they discussed. ‌ Trump opened his new course at his Aberdeenshire golf resort and referred to Swinney as a "terrific guy" during the ceremony. The president has a strong connection to Scotland with his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, being born on the Isle of Lewis. Trump told the crowd during his speech how his mum returned to her homeland "religiously" every year after she emigrated to New York at the age of 18. ‌ The president declared: "We love Scotland." The US politician said he would play a round on his new golf course "very quickly" before returning to Washington DC to "put out fires all over the world".

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store