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The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
I'm not fan of Kate Forbes but this is a far wider problem
The party of government shouldn't be entertaining the notion that the hard-won rights of minority groups are debatable, and I won't be convinced that's a controversial stance to take. I think the presence of those views has unforgivably given rise to those narratives and allowed them to feel at home in a space they should not have been welcomed. An important preface. However, it's impossible to consider her decision in isolation. Whether her views are congruent with the foundations of the SNP or not, it raises serious questions for the party and Scottish politics more widely. Already, 23 SNP MSPs had announced their intention to stand down in 2026, with 14 of them women. A list inclusive of party giants like Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison as well as fresh faces like Natalie Don-Innes, representing more than 60% of those stepping down and almost a quarter of the SNP's current parliamentary group, and that's alongside resignations from other parties. It's not a case of a few gentle career transitions or a generational refresh, it's a systemic across-the-board retreat from political life. A gendered haemorrhaging of experience and talent. READ MORE: John Swinney to consider imposing state boycott on Israel Forbes is just the latest in what could be described as a mass exodus of women from Holyrood, and more specifically from the SNP benches. While I don't always agree with her politics, her decision is a really uncomfortable one. Politics has become a punishing and thankless environment for women in Scotland, especially those who dare to be ambitious. It's to the shame of everyone involved. Even more uncomfortable when you consider that it wasn't so long ago Scotland was internationally recognised for its gender balanced representation in political life, a sore contrast to the reality heading into 2026. Even just looking to the last Holyrood election in 2021, which saw a record number of women elected to our national parliament. Or even more nostalgically to the heydays of the mid-2010s, when three of Scotland's major parties were headed by women. Sturgeon for the SNP, Ruth Davidson for the Tories and Kezia Dugdale for Labour. I remember watching First Minister's Questions at the time and feeling like I was witnessing something big and out of the ordinary. Like progress was not only in front of us in the short term, but had taken root. It was what we understood to be normal in Scotland, even if it wasn't the case more broadly around the world. We're now watching that progress, which was so intentional and meaningful, be unravelled and in large part due to the neglect of those with the power to change it. Forbes has decided to step down because the job demands too much of a mother to a young child. Was it naive of me to hope that gone were the days women would have to sacrifice the careers they worked tirelessly to build because those careers aren't accommodating of family life? It would seem so. (Image: Colin Mearns) If elected politics can't be a place of work flexible enough to accommodate family priorities, it's not working for the benefit of us all. That's just one issue cited as a reason. Others speak of burnout from an unsustainable workload, relentless abuse and a lack of support to handle it, misogyny both from external sources and internal mechanisms that are setting women up to fail. Our female political leaders are communicating en masse that they are no longer willing to tolerate what politics demands of them. The cost is too high, and the return is too low and it's no longer enough for these announcements to be met with lacklustre statement after lacklustre statement loosely expressing disappointment but understanding. We are sleepwalking into a regression that will be as hard to undo as it was the last time. Michelle Thomson MSP, one of those stepping down, described politics as being 'generally very misogynist'. She went on to say: 'I don't think the SNP can be complacent about their own internal mechanisms.' She's absolutely right. Long gone are the days of the gender balance mechanisms championed by Sturgeon, which we are told did their job in 2021 and therefore cannot be repeated. It's almost as if when women aren't represented in the highest offices, gender equality begins to slip back down the priority list. Just two years after the departure of Sturgeon and four since a record number of women were elected to Holyrood, candidate selections for 2026 are already demonstrating a backwards trend, with women making up just 42% of confirmed SNP candidates. A number that isn't final by any means and still has the potential to decline before the election rolls around. The party still completely lacks any kind of system for dealing with harassment or providing meaningful support to those facing the relentless abuse that has become synonymous with politics in Scotland. I say that from experience as a woman in the party, who has faced that abuse for years now. Support is impossible to come by, even when you ask for it. I don't believe there is a single party in our political atmosphere that is tackling this effectively, but as the party of government, it's not amiss to expect the SNP to lead by example. It's this environment, and the lack of support that allows it to freely continue, that is driving women away from our public life. It's not just women who lose out and it's not just part and parcel of being in politics like we are led to believe, it's the strangling of our democracy. When Parliament becomes a place where only certain types of people can survive and be heard, decisions naturally stop being about the many and start being about the same few. That's how representation works, and it's where we're heading if the passive acceptance of this trend continues. So yes, Kate Forbes might never have been the future of feminist politics in Scotland. But her decision to go is emblematic of a much bigger problem. A system that failed her as it has her colleagues and as it will the women coming up behind them if nothing changes. Our leaders of today would do well to look to the example of leaders gone by – who were living proof that progress is possible and sustainable – before it's too late. The time for listening is now, to the women choosing to stay and to those choosing to leave, or we are going to find our politics drowned once again under the weight of a political culture built primarily for and upheld by men. If we don't, 2026 will mark a huge step back for gender equality in Scotland. A reality that was supposed to be behind us.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Live: Starmer faces questions in final PMQs before summer recess
Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch face off in Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday (16 July). It will be the last time the pair battle it out in front of fellow MPs before Parliament's summer recess, which ends on 1 September. It comes just a day after a superinjunction used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) under the previous government to cover up a major data breach which put the lives of nearly 100,000 Afghans at risk was lifted. The government offered asylum to the Afghans affected due to fears that they would be at risk of reprisal attacks from the Taliban if the terrorist organisation found out they were trying to flee. Over 16,000 Afghans were evacuated to the UK, in the nation's largest ever covert peacetime evacuation at a cost of £6billion. Ms Badenoch has already apologised for the debacle, so it is unsure whether she would raise it again. Other topics that could be focused on include immigration, after Sir Keir's 'one in one out' migrant deal was signed with France last week. Inflation could also be on the cards, with the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show prices of goods and services across the UK unexpectedly jumped to 3.6% in the year to June.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Will Starmer resign? Labour insiders say his days as UK PM numbered
Sir Keir Starmer's leadership faces internal challenges as senior Labour figures warn he may need to step down if upcoming election results in Wales, Scotland, and London are disappointing. Frustration simmers within the party, fueled by Reform UK's rise and challenges from left-leaning parties. Despite turmoil and a welfare reform U-turn, Starmer has publicly backed Chancellor Rachel Reeves. UK PM Starmer in 'On Notice' amid party unrest, could step down if local elections go bad. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Labour leader and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly been warned by senior figures within his own party that he may have to step down within months if the government fails to show improvement. This storm in Downing Street surfaces when Starmer is marking the one-year anniversary of Labour beating the Conservatives, which he termed a 'loveless landslide'.According to a report by Sky News, a senior government minister and a prominent Labour MP have effectively 'put Starmer on notice.' They suggested disappointing results in the upcoming elections next May, in Wales, Scotland, and London, could prompt serious questions about his internal scrutiny comes amid frustration within parts of the Labour Party . Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates described the level of 'unhappiness and despair' among some ministers and MPs as 'striking.'He reported that some believe Starmer could be forced to resign before the end of his first year in source highlighted Reform UK 's rising influence in Wales and growing challenges from the Greens and other left-leaning parties in this month, on July 2, Chancellor Rachel Reeves became the center of political and financial turmoil after she was visibly upset during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).Her emotional moment coincided with a turbulent week in Westminster, featuring a welfare reform U‑turn that deepened Labour's fiscal challengesHowever, Starmer publicly reaffirmed his full confidence in Chancellor Rachel Reeves despite the internal pressure. During a recent press conference, he said Reeves would remain 'chancellor for a very long time to come.'Furthermore, on July 3, Reeves and Starmer jointly launched a long-term NHS reform plan Health Secretary Wes Streeting said both Starmer and Reeves are 'consistently underestimated' and insisted that Reeves is 'resilient' and 'here to stay.'
Cosmopolitan
02-07-2025
- Business
- Cosmopolitan
No, Rachel Reeves crying during Prime Minister's Questions isn't the political win you think it is
Look, I'll be honest – I've cried at work before. At one of my old jobs I even had a particular cubicle in the ladies' toilets where I'd go for a silent weep before re-emerging, head down, and slinking back to my desk. Thankfully, the times I have bawled until my face was a red-streaked and swollen mess have not been caught on camera for the world to see (I am a particularly ugly and colourful crier). So I genuinely felt for Rachel Reeves, who today was spotted puffy-eyed with a single tear rolling down her cheek, while sat behind Prime Minister Keir Starmer during today's Prime Minister's Questions, the day after the controversial welfare system reforms vote. Reeves, the country's first female Chancellor, has recently been on the receiving end of criticism from colleagues, opposition parties and the public over a proposal to cut benefits and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) which help disabled people live a more independent life, as part of a much-needed benefits system overhaul. Elements of said plan is something the government has since been forced to u-turn on following backlash and the threat of a Labour rebellion. Much furore has been made of Reeves's clear upset when Starmer sidestepped a question about her future during PMQs – and it's something the financial markets have apparently picked up on, too. At around midday (when PMQ's are broadcast) the value of the pound declined sharply against the dollar (though whether that's entirely down to Reeves's tears, or more linked to the suggestion that unpopular tax rises or a new Chancellor with a whole new economical plan could be waiting in the wings, is unclear). What is clear, however, is the whiff of misogyny accompanying a lot of the commentary about Reeves online right now. There's a lot I find indefensible about this current Labour government – remember the halcyon days of last July when we actually thought change was afoot and things were going to get better? – but a politician showing emotion is not one. It's a tired and well-worn (not to mention chauvinistic) trope that women are often 'too emotional' in the workplace, and that showing any sign of upset is to be considered weak and feeble. It's a reductive take – and we don't know with certainty what has upset her (a spokesperson for the Chancellor said it was 'a personal matter' and that Reeves will be 'working out of Downing Street this afternoon', implying she has not been ousted or used as a scapegoat). Frankly, a few tears are far less embarrassing than some of the frequent, angry outbursts we see from other politicians. Donald Trump, for instance, regularly takes to his own social media platform, Truth Social, to get involved in spats with whoever has irked him that day, using language akin to an angry eight-year-old who has been told he's had enough screentime for the day, labelling former colleagues as 'losers' or any vaguely unflattering (and oftentimes honest) commentary about himself as 'fake news'. Or take his Vice President, JD Vance, and his petulant outburst against Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House earlier this year, during which he berated a man whose country is at war for his lack of wearing a suit. These are treated as popcorn-worthy entertainment, meme-ified and held up as the embodiment of 'power' and strongman politics – when really, it's just a tantrum for all to see. Somehow, though, I reckon Reeves will be judged more harshly. I'm not saying crying at work is necessarily a good thing – if you find yourself dissolving into tears frequently and publicly, maybe it's time to accept that perhaps the job isn't for you. But what I am saying is, sure, there's plenty to attack Reeves over politically (seriously, those welfare reform plans and the threat to remove PIP payments were a mess) – but visibly showing emotion should not be one of them. If the markets are affected by a woman crying, then it's the markets that need to get a grip, not Rachel Reeves. Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Redundancy threat for up to 100 workers who help maintain key Dumfries and Galloway roads
The Unite union claims roads maintenance firm Amey is looking at axing jobs from the workforce assigned to routes such as the A75, A76 and A701. Up to 100 workers who help maintain key roads in Dumfries and Galloway are facing the axe. The Unite union claims roads maintenance firm Amey is looking at axing jobs from the workforce assigned to its south west Scotland trunk roads contract. That includes staff who look after major Dumfries and Galloway roads such as the M74, A75, A76, A77 and A701. Unite industrial officer, David McGurk, said: 'Unite has been informed by Amey that up to 100 jobs are at immediate risk. The workers are currently employed on a road maintenance contract funded by Transport Scotland and directly supported by the Scottish Government across Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Ayrshire. 'Unite will do all we can to support these highly skilled workers who are ensuring that our nation's infrastructure is safe, reliable and up to the highest possible standard. 'We have asked Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, for action from government to ascertain what can be done to save these jobs including an immediate review of the contracts awarded to Amey.' A spokeswoman for Amey said: 'Due to the changing needs in the delivery of the service we have reviewed the operational structure of the business. As a result, Amey has entered a 45-day consultation process with a number of employees on our south west Scotland network management contract. 'A very small proportion of employees will be impacted with most of these achieved through the offer of voluntary redundancy. We will continue to deliver value for money services and will work closely with all affected employees and trade union representatives to ensure the consultation is fair, transparent, and supportive.' South Scotland Labour MSP Carol Mochan raised the matter with John Swinney during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood on Thursday. She said: 'The A77 is one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland and causes constant disruption to the economy of the south west due to its poor state of repair. My constituents have frequent lengthy waits at road works and often face miles of diversions. 'Will the First Minister travel that road with me and explain to my constituents why 100 workers who should be helping to maintain that important road are losing their jobs?' Mr Swinney replied: 'I understand that those issues are the subject of consultation between Amey and the relevant trade unions. I want to make sure that that consultation is done properly and in accordance with the government's fair work principles. 'I understand the importance of Carol Mochan's point, but there is a process to go through on those issues, and the outcome that will be achieved through that might not be the one that Carol Mochan fears. 'I will ask the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to consider the issues that have been raised and to reply to Carol Mochan about how those points can be properly and fully addressed.' A spokesman for Transport Scotland added: 'We have been made aware of the situation at Amey and are awaiting further details of the confidential process they are currently undertaking. 'It is essential that a robust level of service is maintained as part of our maintenance contract in the south west trunk road unit.'
