Glasgow MSPs - Patrick Harvie

I've had to chase up Patrick Harvie's office about meeting up to discuss potential changes to the Gender Recognition Act which is pretty disappointing.

Kim (Long) is Patrick's Community Engagement Manager and acted previously as a local Glasgow Green councillor.

Dear Patrick/Kim

Consultation on Potential Changes to the Gender Recognition Act

I refer to my letter dated 5 October 2022.

The opportunity to meet at the Scottish Parliament has obviously now passed, but no one has come back to me about arranging a meeting in Glasgow.

I would be grateful if you could suggest some likely dates between now and the end of October? 

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards

Mark Irvine

Glasgow MSPs - Patrick Harvie (October 12, 2022)

I haven't heard from Patrick Harvie since my request to meet up with him to discuss proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act.

MSPs claim generous expenses from public money to run their offices, of course, and so I really shouldn't have to chase this up - but I will.

Glasgow MSPs - Patrick Harvie (October 06, 2022)

Patrick Harvie's office responded to my request to meet up while I'm through in Edinburgh today, but said he is too busy with Tenants Protection legislation.

On checking the Parliament's business agenda it appears this legislation is not due to be debated until later today, so I've asked if Patrick can squeeze something in beforehand - or arrange a meeting in Glasgow. 

Dear Kim

Many thanks for your quick response to my letter regarding my request to meet with Patrick Harvie tomorrow (Thursday) while I'm at the Scottish Parliament for the protest in support of women's rights.

I note from the Parliament's business agenda that the debate on Tenants' Protection legislation does not start until after 2pm - so I would be happy to meet with Patrick any time between 10.30am and 1pm, or even between 1pm and 2pm if Patrick could shave 10 minutes off his lunch break.

Would this be any good?

If not, can you suggest a couple of dates and times when Patrick will be free to meet up back in Glasgow?

Many thanks 

Mark Irvine

Glasgow, MSPs and Women's Rights (October 05, 2022)

So there's been a mixed bag of responses to my letter asking to meet with Glasgow's MSPs while I'm in Edinburgh tomorrow at the protest in support of women's rights.

Patrick Harvie's office says he's busy with other ministerial duties, but Holyrood's business agenda confirms these are in the afternoon - so I'm going back for another try. 

Paul Sweeney's office says he is busy with various activities, but has my number and will meet me outside if he can.

Sandesh Gulhane's office says he's not in Edinburgh on Thursday morning, but will make him aware of my email

The rest - Pam Duncan-Glancy, Annie Wells, Anas Sarwar, Pauline McNeil and my constituency MSP Kaukab Stewart - have failed to respond, so far at least. 

But there's still plenty of time so let's hope they get in touch. 

Scottish Parliament - Women's Rights and Single Sex Spaces (October 04, 2022)

I've written to all Glasgow MSPs regarding Thursday's  protest and demonstration at the Scottish Parliament in support of women's to single sex spaces.

The letter below is addressed to Patrick Harvie, but the full list of MSPs includes:

Kaukab Stewart (my constituency MSP)

Pauline McNeil

Anas Sarwar

Annie Wells

Paul Sweeney

Pam Duncan-Glancy

Sandesh Gulhane

So let's see who responds and what they have to say for themselves.

Dear Patrick Harvie

Scottish Parliament - Protest and Demonstration - 11am Thursday 6th October 2022 

I will be attending the Thursday's protest and demonstration at the Scottish Parliament in support of women's rights to single sex spaces, in sport and other areas of public life.

I would be grateful if you, as one of my Glasgow regional list MSPs, could take some time out from your schedule to meet with me to discuss the threat posed to women's rights by the policy of self-ID and men self-declaring themselves to be women.

I would be happy to meet with you inside or outside the Scottish Parliament building and can be contacted via the following mobile number - xxxxx xxxxxx.

I look forward to hearing from you in advance of Thursday.

Kind regards

Mark Irvine

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Irvine <markirvine@compuserve.com>
To: scott.rutherford@parliament.scot <scott.rutherford@parliament.scot>; patrick.harvie.msp@parliament.scot <patrick.harvie.msp@parliament.scot>
Sent: Tue, Sep 27, 2022 12:24 pm
Subject: Re: Consultation on Potential Changes to the Gender Recognition Act

Dear Patrick Harvie

Consultation on Potential Changes to the Gender Recognition Act

Thank you for your very belated response to my letter dated 19 November 2021.

While I am familiar with the old saying 'a week is a long time in politics' I do feel that taking 10 months to respond to a local constituent is rather excessive, particularly when your Glasgow MSP office is supported generously with public funds. 

I also note your response fails to address any of the points raised in my original correspondence or, for example, the more recent and disturbing evidence from the independent Cass Review which raises serious questions about the efficacy of placing vulnerable children/young adults on to an 'affirmative pathway' to irreversible medical and/or surgical treatment.

For the record, I take the view that it is impossible for men or women to change their sex - because a person's sex is embedded in every cell in a human body.

I disagree strongly with the absurd policy of self-identification and believe that a man self-identifying as a woman is akin to a white person self-identifying as a black person - or vice versa.

Kind regards

Mark Irvine