Not As Nice As She Looks
Nicola Sturgeon's is gaining a reputation as a nasty bully after her angry response to Ash Regan's resignation over the Scottish Government's support for legislation which will allow men to declare themselves to be women.
The Sunday Times reports on the ugly spin operation that's been underway since Ash Regan decided to stand up for the views of her constituents by opposing Sturgeon's barmy Self-ID bill.
Team Sturgeon is well versed in the black arts of spin of course - someone within her inner circle deliberately leaked the highly confidential internal report into allegations of harassment against Alex Salmond to the Daily Record, but the leaker has never been found.
Out-of-touch first minister blindsided by the rebel MSPs
By John Boothman - The Sunday Times
It has long been a complaint of some SNP MSPs that Nicola Sturgeon does not turn up for internal group meetings as regularly as her predecessor, leading to accusations that she has become remote.
It’s a complaint that may be heard less in future after the party leader and some of her advisers seemed to be taken aback by Thursday’s rebellion over proposed gender reforms that culminated in a ministerial resignation and the SNP’s biggest internal revolt in 15 years.
Had Sturgeon attended Tuesday afternoon’s group meeting, she could have heard at first hand of the concerns of Ash Regan, among others, rather than profess surprise when her community safety minister later stood down, voicing fears for the safety of women and girls.
Given the first minister’s commitment to gender reform and in recent riposte after JK Rowling accused her of “destroying women’s rights”, one critic said: “As a ‘real feminist’, you would have thought she might have turned up.”
Internal critics suggest the legendary self-discipline of SNP parliamentarians can no longer be taken for granted and that Sturgeon would do well to improve her attendance record, instead of leaving the government’s position to the likes of social justice minister Shona Robison to defend.
The rebellion is regarded by internal gender-critical rebels as highly significant. “In the past it would not have happened,” one MSP said. “We would have bottled it.”
Another MSP, recounting Tuesday’s meeting, said: “It was articulate and respectful. Kenny Gibson completely demolished Shona Robison’s arguments.” The meeting agreed that those with doubts should speak with SNP whips, with deputy first minister John Swinney left trying to quell the mutiny — “turning the screws on some opponents at individual meetings”, one source said, with “carrots and sticks, promotion or suspension, depending on who was being spoken to”. Swinney was partially successful. A few who had signalled mutiny relented but at least one abstainer turned opponent.
Much of the focus has been on Regan — part of a cohort of younger women elected in 2016 that includes finance secretary Kate Forbes. Some of Regan’s colleagues are particularly angry with Sturgeon’s curt response to her resignation — the first minister complaining that she never approached Sturgeon or Robison to raise concerns about the bill — because Regan’s misgivings have been well-known for years.
“If Nicola didn’t know about Ash, she hasn’t been listening,” said one colleague. “The mask slipped; there’s a nasty Nicola streak.”
Speculation surrounds what disciplinary action the leadership might take but there will be no blanket suspension of the whip. A “two strikes and you are out” approach is an option, so the Glasgow MSP John Mason, who has already received a yellow card over his anti-abortion stance, could be suspended.
It would serve as a warning to others. But more problems for the leadership lie ahead.
MSPs have ten days to submit amendments to the bill the government wants to push quickly through Holyrood, and at the end of it all, court battles loom.
This row will pass, the SNP leadership believes. However, the bill will have a longer tail. It has spawned an organised, articulate parliamentary opposition around women’s issues that won’t go away.
