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Spectator
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Why won't Anas Sarwar champion Sandie Peggie?
When nurse Sandie Peggie complained about the presence of a trans-identifying man in the women's changing room at Falkirk's Victoria Hospital, she was treated as a dangerous bigot. A witch-hunt saw her suspended from the job to which she had devoted thirty years of her life and she faced horrifying allegations of placing patients in danger. Today, Peggie is not only a household name in Scotland, she's fast becoming a national hero. An industrial tribunal called by the nurse – started in February, paused, then resumed last week – has heard how doctors and management turned on her while rallying round Dr Beth Upton, a man who claims to be a biological woman. Whether Peggie wins her claims of sexual discrimination against her employers, NHS Fife, and Upton remains to be seen, but it is already clear that public sympathy lies firmly with the working-class nurse rather than the middle-class doctor. This is a truth not only revealed in polling – a recent YouGov survey found more than 60 per cent of people backed the Supreme Court ruling that womanhood is a matter of biology – but also in focus groups commissioned by political parties. Gender ideology may remain popular among self-identifying 'progressive' politicians but voters from across the political spectrum have had more than enough of the 'trans women are women' hooey so enthusiastically pushed by the SNP and others at Holyrood over recent years. When the Scottish parliament voted in 2022 in favour of reforming the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), allowing anyone to self-identify into the sex of their choosing, Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar whipped his MSPs into supporting the proposal. Back then, having swallowed the be-kind Kool-Aid, he showed no sign of recognising the irreconcilable conflict between the rights of women and the demands of militant trans activists. But, in February, as Peggie's case began making headlines, Sarwar saw (or chose to see) sense. Not only did he support the nurse's case, but he also expressed his regret over backing former first minister Nicola Sturgeon's plan to reform the GRA. If, said the Scottish Labour leader, he had known in December 2022 what he now knew, he'd never have voted in favour of changing the law. Fortunately for the women and girls of Scotland, then Conservative Scottish secretary Alister Jack blocked the new legislation in January 2023 on the grounds that it would conflict with the UK-wide Equality Act, which protects the sex-based rights of women. The backlash against reform of the GRA contributed to Nicola Sturgeon's decision to step down as First Minister. Her successors – both the hapless Humza Yousaf and the bland John Swinney – remain committed to the proposal (in theory, anyway,) even as public opposition to gender reform mounts. This baffling support for a discredited ideology left Swinney looking especially foolish as Peggie's tribunal resumed. The First Minister declared his complete confidence in NHS Fife, placing him on the opposite side of this high-profile battle to the majority of voters. Swinney missed his opportunity to free himself from the gender politics swamp. Anas Sarwar has been every bit as politically inept. When Scottish Labour's leader U-turned on gender reform, he managed to upset both those in favour of self-ID and those opposed. To the former – forever now lost to him – he was a traitor; to the latter, he was a cowardly opportunist. Every working day until next Wednesday, crowds of supporters will gather outside the tribunal hearing in Dundee to cheer Sandie Peggie as she arrives. Recording these moments will be camera crews from all major broadcasters. Why, then, isn't Anas Sarwar there, each morning? In common with other party leaders, Sarwar has seen the focus group results and private polling which show the majority of voters believe a woman is an adult human female, not a magical kind of man. The Scottish Labour leader – having made a fool of himself in February – should turn up in Dundee, brace himself for a spot of heckling, and brave it out. 'I know I'm late,' he should tell Peggie's supporters, 'But I'm here, now.' We're bang in the middle of 'silly season', when summer holidays and parliamentary recesses leave the news agenda rather bare. This being so, the already gripping case of Sandie Peggie is receiving blanket coverage across Scottish media (with the exception, of course, of the SNP's court comic, The National, which – as is always the case when things look embarrassing for the separatists – maintains a 'nothing to see here' position). There is a space, right now, for Sarwar to position his party as champions of women's rights. While Labour and the SNP (and, of course, the cranks of the Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats) continue to fail women, this issue represents a free kick for the insurgent Reform UK, which will stand candidates in next May's Holyrood election. Nigel Farage's party is on course to devour much of the Scottish Tory vote but parties of the centre-left are also vulnerable when it comes to the issue of women's rights. Senior SNP and Labour figures privately conceded that Farage's party can take votes from them on the regional lists from which 56 of Holyrood's 129 MSPs are elected. John Swinney has set his course on this matter and he's heading away from voters. But, instead of capitalising on this foolishness, Scottish Labour's leader remains bafflingly unwilling to seize ownership of the issue. Anas Sarwar's past betrayal of women's rights was morally indefensible. His failure to attend Sandie Peggie's tribunal and declare Labour her champions is politically inept.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
JK Rowling offers to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir for free in newspapers
Nicola Sturgeon's memoir is due to be published next month | PA The author has been a vocal critic of the former first minister, and joked she would 'take one for the team' Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... JK Rowling has offered to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir for free in British newspapers as long as they do not "edit out the swear words". The Harry Potter author, who has repeatedly criticised the former first minister over her views on trans rights and the principle of self-identification, joked she was 'ready to take one for the team'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She recently hit out at Ms Sturgeon after the Scottish Government said it still had confidence in NHS Fife despite the ongoing fallout over an employment tribunal involving nurse Sandie Peggie. Nicola Sturgeon's memoir is due to be published next month | PA Ms Peggie was suspended from her work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in January last year after she objected to Dr Beth Upton, a trans woman, using the female changing room in the A&E department. Writing on social media, Ms Rowling said: 'This is Nicola Sturgeon's legacy: a government that publicly backs the hapless, unprofessional, ideologically captured health board that's persecuting a nurse for asserting her legal right to a single-sex changing room.' The author was a fierce opponent of Ms Sturgeon's planned gender reforms, which aimed to make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Opponents raised concerns this would undermine women's sex-based rights, such as access to women-only spaces, and the legislation was later blocked by the UK Government. In 2022, Ms Rowling posted a photo of herself to social media wearing a t-shirt calling the former first minister a 'destroyer of women's rights'. Ms Sturgeon's memoir, Frankly, is due to be published next month. In a review quoted on Amazon, the author Andrew O'Hagan called it a 'triumph', adding: 'Frankly is the most insightful and stylishly open memoir by a politician since Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Responding to an article in the Daily Mail that featured political opponents ridiculing the comparison with Mr Obama, Ms Rowling wrote on X: 'Calling all British newspapers: I am available to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir. No fee required as long as you don't edit out the swear words.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
JK Rowling slams ‘hapless' NHS bosses who suspended nurse for complaining about trans doc using female changing rooms
AUTHOR JK Rowling has slammed "hapless" NHS bosses for suspending a nurse who challenged a trans doctor in the female changing rooms. Sandie Peggie was suspended after she objected to sharing a changing room with Dr Beth Upton - a biological male - at the NHS Fife hospital where they both worked in Scotland. 4 4 4 Sandie was suspended from work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in January last year after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment. But she was cleared of allegations of misconduct, failures of patient care and misgendering the doctor in an internal disciplinary hearing. The Harry Potter writer, 59, also took aim at former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, suggesting the "unprofessional" behaviour of NHS Fife was a direct result of her legacy. Writing on social media, Rowling fumed: "This is Nicola Sturgeon's legacy. "... a government that publicly backs the hapless, unprofessional, ideologically captured health board that's persecuting a nurse for asserting her legal right to a single-sex changing room." Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon said that the nurse - who has worked at the health board for 30 years - was "relieved and delighted" after being cleared of the allegations. In a statement, Ms Gribbon said: "On Tuesday 14 July, the evening before the resuming of her tribunal, Sandie Peggie received confirmation from Fife Health Board that following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations against her were upheld. "This follows a disciplinary hearing on 25 June, which considered four gross misconduct allegations: two relating to patient care failures, one of 'misgendering' Dr Upton, and one relating to her encounter with Dr Upton in the workplace female-only changing room on Christmas Eve 2023. "Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month-long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations." It comes as an employment tribunal brought by Ms Peggie against the health board is set to resume this week. JK Rowling has been a prominent women's rights campaigner and has often been vocal on what she calls "sex-based rights" for several years. The writer praised BBC newsreader Martine Croxall last month after she refused to say "pregnant people" on air. Gender row nurse cleared of gross misconduct She joked she had a "new favourite BBC presenter" after Martine overruled her autocue which referred to "pregnant people" being at risk during the recent hot weather. Rowling has come under fire for comments made in the past towards trans people. In 2020, the esteemed author slammed the growing trend of replacing "biological sex" with "gender identity". Her stance, that declared "sex is real", led to death threats, but also moulded her into a figurehead for the "gender-critical" movement. Activists accused her of transphobia in 2020 when replying to an article with the headline: "Opinion: Creating a more equal post Covid-19 world for people who menstruate." She tweeted: "'People who menstruate'. I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. "Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" Her remarks led to criticism from Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, who ignored the fact her books had made them famous to launch a string of attacks. It was Rowling's beloved group For Women Scotland which also launched a long-running legal battle with the Scottish government over how a "woman" was defined in Scottish law. The Scottish government had argued people with gender recognition certificates (GRCs) should be protected from sex-based discrimination, meaning a transwoman would be considered a woman. However, campaign group For Women Scotland claimed this only applied to people born as a female. In April, the Supreme Court 's landmark judgement ruled that it was unanimously determined "sex is binary" and that female-only spaces must be protected on the basis of biology. 4
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
John Swinney at centre of fresh secrecy row after SNP's deleted Covid WhatsApp scandal
Scroll down to find out more about the latest row WIPE OUT John Swinney at centre of fresh secrecy row after SNP's deleted Covid WhatsApp scandal JOHN Swinney is at the centre of a fresh secrecy row over the use of an app that automatically deletes content after five days. A decision by the First Minister to allow the Microsoft Teams instant messaging service for Scottish Government business is being probed by Scotland's transparency watchdog. Advertisement 3 First Minister John Swinney Credit: Michael Schofield 3 Nicola Sturgeon was among those who deleted their WhatsApp messages Credit: PA It comes after Nats chiefs faced a huge backlash for scrubbing WhatsApp messages during Covid. Critics blasted the latest tech move and said it provides a 'deliberate loophole'. Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: 'The SNP need to come clean on this state-sponsored automatic deletion of messages and why it is still being allowed. 'It looks as though a deliberate loophole has been left in place to allow senior figures to avoid scrutiny over key decisions. That is typical of this sleekit and secretive SNP government who only announced this apparent change in policy after already deleting Covid-related messages on an industrial scale.' Advertisement Information Commissioner David Hamilton confirmed the SNP's use to Teams messages forms part of an ongoing probe. He said: 'This issue is currently subject of my investigation into how messaging apps are used in Scottish Government. It will be helpful to understand the rationale for such a short retention period and how compliance with any policies will be assured. 'Both will form part of my enquiries.' In their new guidance, Nats chiefs say MS Teams chat is the 'core messaging functionality' of their internal system, allowing civil servants to 'message, call, screen share' others in the organisation. Advertisement Ministers say the chat function can be used for 'general day-to-day activities' with colleagues external stakeholders, as well as and 'urgent work communications'. It is also allowed to be used with 'ministerial support or advice', including when ministers are in the Holyrood chamber. Damning screenshots expose Jason Leitch's 'pre-bed WhatsApp ritual' during pandemic as SNP bosses branded 'shameful' Civil servants and ministers can use the chat function for 'communication of urgent work issues' out of normal hours. The change in rules means messages on government business, including advice to ministers or key discussions among senior civil servants, could be auto-deleted — potentially undermining any future inquiries into scandals. Advertisement It comes after Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes reconfirmed last month the ban on WhatsApp on government phones. Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon deleted Covid WhasApps despite telling Scots on TV that she would hand all of them over. We told how mountains of messages between key ministers, including Ms Sturgeon, her successor Humza Yousaf, and Mr Swinney showed they joked about deleting the messages to avoid publishing them through transparency rules. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government's approach to Microsoft Teams is similar to the approach taken by UK Government departments. Advertisement 'Microsoft Teams is a corporate system which operates under the direct control of the Scottish Government and in line with its published policies in respect of records management. Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director, also angered Covid bereaved groups for saying deleting his WhatsApps was a 'pre-night' ritual. We also revealed in October how the UK's chief medical officers rallied round disgraced adviser Catherine Calderwood after her lockdown-busting trip to Fife, also revealed by The Scottish Sun. 3 Jason Leitch was at the centre of the covid WhatsApp row Credit: Andrew Barr
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
JK Rowling hits out at Nicola Sturgeon in the wake of NHS Fife trans row
JK Rowling has reignited her feud with Nicola Sturgeon - and blamed her for the SNP's handling of the NHS Fife trans row. The Harry Potter author said the Scottish Government's continued defence of the 'hapless, unprofessional, ideologically captured health board' was the former First Minister's 'legacy'. First Minister John Swinney and Health Secretary Neil Gray both insist they have confidence in NHS Fife despite criticism over its behaviour during the Sandie Peggie tribunal. Mrs Peggie, 51, was suspended after she refused to get changed alongside a male-born doctor. Yesterday, Ms Rowling said: ' Nicola Sturgeon 's legacy: a government that publicly backs the hapless, unprofessional, ideologically captured health board that's persecuting a nurse for asserting her legal right to a single-sex changing room.' It is the latest broadside levelled at the former First Minister by the multi-millionaire children's author, who has a net worth of £945 million. In 2022, Ms Rowling wore a T-shirt which branded Ms Sturgeon a 'destroyer of women's rights' in protest against the Scottish Government's gender recognition reform laws, which were later blocked by the UK Government. The move prompted Ms Sturgeon to call for those with strong views to 'treat each other with respect'. She said: 'I have always thought that on this issue, where people have very strong views, we should all try to treat each other with respect and that is what I will continue to do.' The row escalated after a landmark Supreme Court ruling in April, which clarified that a woman is biologically female for the purposes of equalities laws, when Ms Rowling compared Ms Sturgeon to Pontius Pilate, who ordered Jesus' crucifixtion. After Ms Sturgeon refused to comment on the ruling, Ms Rowling mocked her silence by sharing a social media selfie of the Glasgow MSP in the gym on Easter Monday calling her 'Pontius Pilates'. In the Bible, Pontius Pilate did not believe that Jesus had committed a crime but condemned him to death because the crowd called for it. And last month, after Ms Sturgeon chaired a discussion about the witch trials in Scotland, Ms Rowling hit out at her adversary again. She said: 'If Sturgeon had been around in the 1500s she'd have been right there lighting the pyres. 'Ungodly women like this not only blight the crops and turn the milk, they almost certainly put a spell on my husband which made him pilfer all the tithes.' The author has consistently stuck up for women's rights in recent years - and has even pledged to personally fund gender-critical legal actions. The 'fighting fund' is helping women who have lost their livelihoods or are facing employment tribunals because of their views on sex-based rights. The criteria covers those who 'don't have adequate means to bring actions to court or to defend themselves'. It was publicly announced in May after prisoner Jane Sutherley said she was considering suing the Scottish Prison Service after she was forced to share facilities with transgender women.
