Latest news with #RobertInnes
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
SNP Minister's husband hurls 'weirdo' insult in clash on trans people and changing rooms
EXCLUSIVE: SNP Councillor Robert Innes hit out at people who are 'obsessed' with 'genitalia' in a debate on the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex. An SNP Minister's husband has branded critics who raise concerns about trans people and changing rooms as 'weirdo'. SNP Councillor Robert Innes, who is married to Children's Minister Natalie Don-Innes, hit out at people who are 'obsessed' with 'genitalia'. He has been urged to retract the comments and apologise. The row stemmed from a debate at Renfrewshire Council after the Supreme Court ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. Judges sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought a case against the SNP Government legislation on gender representation on public boards. The judgement will have implications for trans people and single sex spaces such as bathrooms and changing facilities. During a council meeting, Labour councillor Alison Ann-Dowling moved a motion backing the court ruling. Her motion also instructed the local authority CEO to review the council's 'policies, procedures and guidance and training materials' to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court decision. Innes said during the debate: 'If you are obsessed with, or focused on caring about, somebody else's genitalia in a changing room, then you're the weirdo, not the person who is trying to get changed. 'If you are in a public restroom and everybody is behaving as you would expect - going to the toilet, washing their hands, checking their reflection - then what does it matter if they are a male or a female? 'It's the abusers that should be the concern and the focus here, not the people in the toilet. This ruling here, it rips rights away from a vulnerable minority.' He also quoted former SNP MP Mhairi Black who wrote that 'a proven gateway into fascism is transphobia'. Innes' wife is the Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise, as well as the MSP for Renfrewshire North and West. Ann-Dowling told the Record: 'It's really disappointing when elected members with influence over public policy use their time to personally attack people who have raised safeguarding concerns in the most offensive terms. "Instead of making a positive contribution to upholding principles of safeguarding, he chose to attack people who recognise the need for single-sex spaces for the safety and privacy of women and girls, places like rape crisis centres and changing rooms, as 'weirdos' who are obsessed with 'genitalia'. He should retract his comments and apologise." The SNP Government has said it will wait until new guidance is issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on single sex spaces before it implements the court ruling. An SNP spokesperson said: 'We've been clear that we accept the judgement of the Supreme Court ruling and are committed to promoting the rights of women and LGBT people. It is important we all do our best to ensure the discussions and debate following the Supreme Court judgement are rooted in empathy, compassion and equality for everyone.' Councillor Innes has been contacted.
Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trans ruling may be used as ‘cover for transphobic abuse', claims CofE diocese
The Supreme Court's trans ruling could be used as a 'cover from transphobic abuse', a Church of England diocese has claimed. The Diocese of Salisbury said the judgment that transgender women are not legally women had caused 'struggling and suffering'. In a statement issued on behalf of its LGBTQIA+ chaplaincy service, the diocese asked clergy and worshippers to pray for trans priests and parishioners 'affected by this judgment'. It is the first public statement made by any of the Church's 42 dioceses on the ruling earlier this month. 'Emotional pain' The judgment has been hailed as a 'landmark' ruling for women's rights by gender-critical campaigners. But the statement issued by the Diocese of Salisbury said it had caused 'emotional pain'. 'The Chaplaincy team are concerned that the recent Supreme Court ruling may cause pain to many people, and may even be used as a cover for transphobic abuse,' it read. The statement added that Anglicans should be 'careful in the use of words' in the wake of the judgment. 'We ask that, whatever our various views on the matter, we bear in mind that many people are struggling and suffering because of the emotional pain caused by this judgement,' it read. 'Can we please be careful in the use of words, and can we please pray for the many lay and ordained members of our diocese who have been affected by this judgment.' The diocese went on to say that the chaplaincy team endorsed a statement issued by Together for the Church of England, a pro-LGBT pressure group which supports the introduction of same-sex marriage in the church. 'We want to make absolutely clear our belief that trans people are beloved, held, and rejoiced over by the God who loved each and every one of us into being, and for our trans siblings to know that we stand in solidarity alongside you,' Together's statement reads. 'We will not stay silent as you face the way ahead, and we commit ourselves to listening to and amplifying your voices. 'You are holy and adored by God. We will not stand by when anyone tries to diminish or deny the dignity of God's beloved children and our treasured siblings.' The diocese's LGBT chaplaincy provides 'pastoral support and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ people'. The Church of England has previously been criticised for issuing guidance telling primary schools that children as young as five can be transgender. The Valuing All God's Children report said primary school-aged children can change their gender identity and advised schools on how to create 'inclusive' environments for trans pupils. In 2022, the Rt Rev Robert Innes, the Bishop in Europe, provoked a backlash when he said there is 'no official definition' of a woman. Individual churches have also previously draped altars with the pro-transgender Progress Pride flag in apparent violations of canon law. These include Sunderland Minster, in County Durham, and St Nicholas in Leicester. Last December, it emerged that an Anglican campaign group – LGBTQ Faith UK – had promoted guidance saying the Bible was pro-transgender. The Church of England was approached for comment.
