#scottish national party (snp)

[tweetingukpolitics]

#michael spicer #political twitter #snp leadership contest #kate forbes #uk news #uk politics #snp #scottish national party

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Andrew Doyle

Published: Mar 20, 2024

“Police told to target comics under new hate crime law.” This was the rather alarming headline on the front cover of yesterday’s Herald, and it concerned leaked materials from recent training sessions undertaken by the Scottish police. Officers are being instructed that actors and comedians whose performances are likely to “stir up hatred” could be breaking the law. Suitably enough, the SNP’s new legislation will come into force on April Fool’s Day.

Many of us have been sounding the alarm over the SNP’s draconian measures since the bill was proposed in early 2020. The Scottish Police Federation warned that the effects of the bill would be tantamount to the “policing of what people think or feel”, and the Law Society of Scotland called it a “significant threat to freedom of expression”. Senior Catholic bishops, meanwhile, pointed out that the story of Sodom and Gomorrah might be deemed hateful towards homosexuals and so even owning a copy of the Bible could be criminalised.

As for comedians, Roddy Dunlop KC cautioned that stand-up would not be exempt, and that even the old “Scotsman, Irishman and Englishman” joke would be perceived as discriminatory. But in the face of all this criticism, Humza Yousaf (who was then Justice Secretary) was dogged in his determination to see the bill pass.

Naturally, supporters of the SNP scoffed at the suggestion that anyone would be arrested for simply expressing controversial opinions or telling jokes. The police have said they will not target performers, but at the same time have promised to investigate all complaints. This is, of course, precisely the problem. Activists have already pledged to weaponise the new law to see J.K. Rowling prosecuted for the “crime” of referring to a man as male (in this case the former Big Brother contestant and online troll India Willoughby). Solicitor Rajan Barot replied to Rowling on Twitter/X, stating that any of her posts in which Willoughby was referred to as a man would be “amenable to prosecution in Scotland” after 1 April. “Start deleting!” he demanded.

The SNP has effectively reintroduced blasphemy laws by stealth, only now it is in the name of the new state religion of Critical Social Justice. The law specifically prohibits “stirring up hatred” (whatever that means) against anyone who shares the following “protected characteristics”: disability, race, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity. The last of these represents a significant departure from the protected characteristic of the Equality Act 2010, in which “gender reassignment” rather than “transgender identity” is covered. This means that to “misgender” someone — otherwise known as accurately describing his or her sex — could be deemed a breach of the law.

That police are being specifically trained to keep a watchful eye on comedians is no surprise to any of us who have been paying attention. A section of the legislation that covered the “public performance of a play” apparently still applies, and this would surely incorporate stand-up comedy shows. Given that the world’s largest arts festival is held in Edinburgh every year, with over 3,000 shows in the programme, is it likely that activists won’t take the opportunity to exploit the new law against those performers they despise?

Last year, my own Comedy Unleashed event was cancelled twice within the space of two days, simply because the line-up included Graham Linehan (whose gender-critical views have made him a pariah in the industry). After the second venue cancelled on us, Linehan and the other acts were brave enough to perform on a makeshift stage in broad daylight outside of the Scottish Parliament. If we were to repeat the show this year, would the acts be dragged away in handcuffs?

Well, maybe we’ll find out even sooner. Comedy Unleashed is currently looking into producing a special event in Scotland on 1 April to coincide with the implementation of the new bill. We’ll be platforming some reliably “problematic” comedians, and there’ll be plenty of wrongthink on display. Of course, this very much depends on us securing a venue that won’t cancel at the last minute, so please do email us ([email protected]) if you can help. In these authoritarian times, we could all do with a laugh.

==

Targeting comedians is no accident, not is it random.

“The greatest enemy of authority, therefore, is contempt, and the surest way to undermine it is laughter.” -- Hannah Arendt

Comedians are the embodiment of "talking truth to power." So going after them is a deliberate signal to fall into line with the demands of totalitarians.

#Andrew Doyle #blasphemy #blasphemy laws #hate speech laws #hate speech #censorship #freedom of speech #free speech #Scotland #Scottish National Party #SNP #authoritarianism #religion is a mental illness

[dadsinsuits]

Ian Blackford

#suitdaddy #suiteddaddy #suited daddy #men in suits #silverfox #suitfetish #three piece suit #waistcoat #suited grandpa #suitedman #suit daddy #buisness suit #suitedmen #british man #british men #Scottish man #Scottish men #scottish national party #snp #Ian Blackford

[bantarleton]

I wonder if one of the three SNP leadership candidates could tell us just why America didn’t need a referendum to be independent (or square the mental discordance of thousands of Scots dying to try and stop that independence)?

#snp #scottish national party

[elicatkin]

Kate Forbes: SNP 'frontrunner' on abortion, church and trans rights

#kate forbes #scottish politics #scottish national party (snp) #trans rights #gender recognition act #Scotland

[feckcops]

Labour has shown great courage in the past on LGBTQ+ rights. Why won’t it do the same for trans people now?

“Dodds describes the Scottish government’s attempt to introduce self-ID – which was blocked by Westminster – as ‘cavalier’. This is both disingenuous and inaccurate. The gender recognition reform bill in Scotland was supported by the Scottish Labour Party and a majority of Scottish MSPs, after a six-year process involving two public consultation exercises.

“Labour promises to change the demeaning, intrusive process that the current Gender Recognition Act (GRA) requires, but Dodds ... [says] that retaining medical involvement ‘upholds legitimacy of applications and confidence in the system’. Why, trans people will ask, can they still not be trusted when they say who they are? And why do non-binary people not get a mention?

“Discussion of the need to ‘protect women and girls from predators’ is reminiscent of the kind of things written about gay people in the dark days of Section 28 in the 1980s. In failing to make clear (as I hope she means) that she is referring to predatory men, not trans people, Dodds feeds those scaremongering tropes. There is no mention of the fact that possessing a gender-recognition certificate is not a key to access single-sex spaces. When were you last asked for a birth certificate at a toilet or changing-room door?

“The fence-sitting is clearest when in one breath Dodds talks about ‘biological women’ and ‘providing legal clarity for the providers of single-sex services’ (both battle cries of those who seek to exclude trans people), followed in the next breath by the claim that trans people will be ‘accepted, without exception’ (a Stonewall slogan). Advances in equality don’t come by splitting the difference between those who seek to advance rights and those who want them reduced. That just leads to stagnation.”

#annaliese dodds #gender recognition act #gender recognition reform #self-id #transgender rights #trans rights #lgbt rights #queer rights #trans #non-binary #queer #lgbt #culture war #labour party #labour #scottish national party #snp #uk

[corepaedianews]

Humza Yousaf: Scotland gets a Muslim leader in a moment of extraordinary change for British politics

Parveen Akhtar, Aston University and Timothy Peace, University of Glasgow Humza Yousaf’s appointment as first minister of Scotland is a historic moment for the UK. It means that, for the first time in history, the country has a Hindu prime minister in Westminster (Rishi Sunak) and a Muslim first minister in Scotland. In his victory speech, Yousaf said: We should all take pride in the fact that…

View On WordPress

#First muslim leader in the UK #Indian diaspora #Muslim leader #Scotland #Scottish Government #Scottish National Party #Scottish parliament #Scottish politics #SNP #UK ethnic minorities #UK politics

[coochiequeens]

Another example of why the trans rights movement is a movement for violent men

The London Branch of the Scottish National Party (SNP) has hired a radical trans activist as an Equalities Officer, prompting backlash and concern from feminists who have uncovered violent statements he has made against women critical of gender ideology.

Cameron Downing, 23, was quietly elected as an Equalities Officer for the SNP’s London Branch at the party’s most recent Annual General Meeting. Downing also works as the Media and Communications Officer for the party’s official LGBTQ group — Out for Independence, where he previously served as the gender identity and expression officer.

But disturbing tweets have emerged of Downing calling for physical violence against “TERFs,” an acronym which stands for “trans exclusionary radical feminist.” TERF is considered by many to be a derogatory term, and has often been used to justify violence against women who oppose gender ideology.

On Friday, two tweets Downing made in 2020 began to circulate, in which he wrote he was “in the mood to beat the fuck out of some TERFs and transphobes.” In another, he proclaimed he “fucking hate[d]” women who advocate for single-sex spaces.

As the screenshots of the two posts picked up attention, Downing rapidly locked down his social media accounts, preventing them from being searched further.

In light of Downing’s hiring, Scottish women on social media began expressing their disappointment in the SNP, with many stating the party had lost their votes due to their increased acceptance of gender ideology over the last few years. 

“The SNP seem to actively want mindless thugs in their ranks – as long as it is only women they want to hurt,” For Women Scotland tweeted in response to the news.

“I am a party member. I will not turn up to campaign or even vote in any election until the party seriously tackles its problem with misogyny. I will not vote for a party that tolerates speech encouraging violence against women from its officers,” wrote Twitter user @rampitchfork.

Even within the SNP, some who have spoken up against gender self-identification laws have found themselves mistreated by the party. 

SNP Member of Parliament Joanna Cherry has been a vocal proponent of women’s sex-based rights and has expressed disapproval of many elements of gender ideology. Cherry has said that as a result of her beliefs, she was “cancelled” by her party, and that she has been subjected to harassment and abuse campaigns on social media for condemning self-identification laws.

At the LGB Alliance’s first annual conference in 2021, Cherry spoke about the death threats she received for speaking out for women’s sex based rights. She also described having received a corrective rape threat which, after a police investigation, she learned originated from a fellow SNP member. 

“Essentially threatening me with corrective rape, and it turned out that these came from somebody who was actually a member of the SNP. This man was prosecuted successfully and I find it really quite horrifying and troubling that nobody in my political party has felt able to publicly condemn the rape threats that were made against me,” Cherry stated in her speech at the conference. 

Cherry said that she has received private messages of support from fellow party members, but that they have expressed fear about going public with their shared concerns.

Downing is not the first person the SNP has employed who was later found to have expressed contempt for those who advocate for women’s sex-based rights.

Earlier this year, the SNP came under fire after having hiring a trans-identified male, Alexandria Adamson, as their Learning Disabilities Officer. 

Shortly after his appointment, video began circulating of Adamson screaming repeatedly at a woman during a demonstration in Edinburgh in September of 2021. 

Female protesters had gathered to demand the SNP and the Scottish Green Party protect women’s sex based rights in law, and were carrying signs reading “save our single-sex spaces” and “sex not gender.” Adamson, while using a walker, was caught on film abruptly charging at one of the women and hurling slurs in her face.

Shortly after his hiring was announced, internet sleuths began searching through Adamson’s Twitter account and found a number of disturbing posts. Adamson referred to women’s rights activists as “evil TERFs,” and had called for current-Prime Minister Liz Truss a “demon” and a “bitch” who had to be “put to death.”

Adamson’s role within the SNP was reportedly suspended following additional threats he issued at Tory leadership candidate Rishi Sunak. 

Earlier this month, SNP Member of Parliament John Nicolson similarly drew ire for claiming that anyone could “declare” themselves a lesbian.

Nicolson made the homophobic remark during a tribunal in which the LGB Alliance is being forced to defend its charity status in light of a challenge from trans activist charity Mermaids.

The Scottish National Party officially supports a bill which would outline changes to the Gender Recognition Act in Scotland, including removing the requirement for an individual to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria prior to being able to change the sex on their birth certificate. The bill would also allow minors as young as 16 to make changes to their legal documents.

By Shay Woulahan Shay is a writer and social media content creator for Reduxx. She is a proud lesbian activist and feminist who lives in Northern Ireland with her partner and their four-legged, fluffy friends.

#UK #Scotland #Scottish National Party (SNP) #Cameron Downing tweeting about harming women he disagrees with #Out for Independence #For Women Scotland

[crynwr-drwg]

"The Scottish National Party leader is expected to make the announcement at a hastily-arranged news conference in Edinburgh.

It is not clear exactly when she will leave office.

Ms Sturgeon has been first minister since November 2014, when she took over from Alex Salmond following the independence referendum.

She went on to become the country's longest-serving first minister.

However, a source close to Ms Sturgeon told the BBC that she had "had enough"."

Fuckin' hell, wasn't expectin' that, but with a reasoning like that ye can hardly blame her.

#news #politics #scotland #united kingdom #uk #wales #nicola sturgeon #snp #scottish national party

[tweetingukpolitics]

#mandu reid #political twitter #nicola sturgeon #snp #scottish national party #womens equality party #uk news #uk politics

[themistressofdolls]

Seeing Scotland go from "We are a tolerent country and a role model in the world" to "Well actually lets give Conversion Therapy a fair hearing." is such a downfall.

#I blame nicola sturgeon for softballing these bigots in the party way back and letting them get more bold over the years #The SNP has always had a social conservative elements which is getting louder again #What is scottish independence worth if its built on fucking over LGBTQ people? #We'd be no better than the UK at that point #fuck newspapers like the national too who always platform transphobes and other bigots

[dadsinsuits]

Ian Blackford

#suitdaddy #suiteddaddy #suit and tie #daddy #silverfox #suited daddy #men in suits #british man #british men #snp #scottish national party #ian blackford #suited grandpa #suitedman #suit daddy #suited men #suited man #buisness suit #suitedmen #suitfetish

[realpeterabell]

The devolution disaster

We should ask ourselves why articles like this from two years ago and more are still relevant. Why has Scotland's cause not kept pace with a changing situation?

Boris Johnson is correct! From a British Nationalist perspective devolution has been a disaster. A worsening disaster. Not for Scotland, but for the Union. Devolution has been seriously the ‘Greater England’ project of ‘One Nation’ British Nationalists. It has become necessary to resort to drastic measures in the hope of rescuing that project. Perhaps we should better say that devolution has…

View On WordPress

#devolution #Scottish Government #Scottish National Party #Scottish Parliament #SNP

[feckcops]

Who’s to blame for deep poverty in Scotland?

“In the last week, another important piece of news broke in the form of a major new report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The paper reveals a stark rise in levels of ‘deep poverty’ in Scotland. Some of the findings are shocking, even to those who follow research on deprivation and inequality, raising questions about how it might be tackled and who is to blame.

“The report states: ‘In the time period 1994–1997, 310,000 people in Scotland lived in very deep poverty, that is they had an income less than 40% of the UK median. That was bad enough, but in 2017–2020 (the most recent figures we use), that figure was 460,000.’ ... The research was conducted up until the pandemic – the impact of which has since been compounded by the cost of living crisis. People are finding it harder to keep their home warm (reported by 53% of working-age households), eating lower quality food (46%), and feeling less able to socialise (38%). Meanwhile, homelessness is at record levels, and the number of children living in temporary accommodation has soared. The situation is unequivocally bleak ...

“The mismatch between rhetoric and reality from what is an increasingly disconnected and image obsessed political class in Edinburgh is self-evident. The Scottish government and the SNP have nestled comfortably in a position where they can displace blame onto Westminster and evade scrutiny of their own record. In truth, despite the party’s dominance, it had expended very little political capital in the direction of working class Scots. Instead, its organising principle has been to outsource projects and service delivery to corporations and private consultancy firms. This has been camouflaged by progressive soundbites, but the lack of real reform even within the devolved context is palpable. All the while the red carpet has been rolled out for foreign capital, extracting the nation’s wealth which should be held in common, as agreements with Rishi Sunak on freeport tax havens are enthusiastically celebrated.”

#poverty #homelessness #houselessness #scottish national party #snp #scottish nationalists #nicola sturgeon #humza yousaf #workers #working class #outsourcing #privatisation #foreign direct investment #neoliberalism #capitalism #scotland #uk #politics

[peterabell]

The devolution disaster

We should ask ourselves why articles like this from two years ago and more are still relevant. Why has Scotland's cause not kept pace with a changing situation?

Boris Johnson is correct! From a British Nationalist perspective devolution has been a disaster. A worsening disaster. Not for Scotland, but for the Union. Devolution has been seriously the ‘Greater England’ project of ‘One Nation’ British Nationalists. It has become necessary to resort to drastic measures in the hope of rescuing that project. Perhaps we should better say that devolution has…

View On WordPress

#devolution #Scottish Government #Scottish National Party #Scottish Parliament #SNP

[politicoscope]

UK Supreme Court Ends Scottish Independence Referendum Dream

UK Supreme Court Ends Scottish Independence Referendum Dream

The semi-autonomous government of Scotland cannot hold a vote on independence without the consent of the government in London, the UK Supreme Court decided on Wednesday. The body’s president, Lord Reed, said its five judges had unanimously ruled that the Edinburgh parliament “does not have the power to legislate for a Scottish Independence Referendum.” Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the ruling…

View On WordPress

#Independence Referendum #Nicola Sturgeon #Referendum #Scotland #Scottish Independence Referendum #Scottish National Party #Scottish Referendum #SNP