Anas Sarwar: Don't conflate Sandie Peggie 'racist' comments with point of tribunal
The Scottish Labour leader, who has publicly supported Peggie, told the Daily Record on Thursday that the comments were 'horrific'.
Asked by The National if he regretted publicly supporting Peggie now the remarks had come to light, Sarwar insisted that he supported the 'primacy of the Equality Act'.
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Peggie was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, [[Fife]], on Christmas Eve 2023.
Allegations were made during the tribunal regarding Peggie's comments relating to mosques, as well as "racist" jokes she had shared in a work group chat about flooding that killed thousands in Pakistan.
Peggie denied the remarks in relation to mosques, but said the joke about the floods were sent in 'dark humour' to friends.
Asked if he regretted supporting Peggie (below) following the revelations, Sarwar told The National: 'I think there should not be a conflation on saying that we support the protection of the Equality Act, the primacy of the Equality Act, and the protection of single sex spaces based on biological sex.
(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) 'That is our position and remains our position. At the same time, we have to call out racism or any other form of prejudice, and that's exactly what we have done.
'We think the Scottish Government and NHS boards should be complying with the Equality Act. Should be urgently complying with the Equality Act whilst, and this is not inconsistent, whilst also calling out prejudice.'
Pushed on if that meant he didn't regret publicly supporting Peggie, he said: 'I have zero regret in saying that we have to support the Equality Act, the primacy of the Equality Act and protecting single sex spaces based on biological sex.
'And I also continue to call out any form of racism or prejudice, as was demonstrated in those comments that have been attributed.'
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After Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, citing concerns about 'patient care', Peggie was placed on special leave.
She then lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination, and victimisation.
The tribunal has become a flash point for gender-critical campaigners and anti-trans groups, particularly following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman earlier this year.
And now, For Women Scotland, which brought the case against the Scottish Government in relation to the definition of the Equality Act to the Supreme Court, has been granted permission to lodge a written intervention.
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