SNP lists - attacks on Joan McAlpine

They actually changed two longstanding rules in their determination to purge the party of women's rights campaigners.

Yes. The desperation not to let voters have the option of voting in someone who will defend women's rights says a great deal to me. In particularly that they clearly believe there's a high risk of voters wanting this and voting for it if they can. Not fans of democracy this lot.

I like this thread for discussing the concerted attempts to get women out and don’t want a big discussion on the independence thing here either.

It’s all very murky. I was startled to see that Rhiannon Spears is apparently a law student, whilst advocating ignoring the law. I don’t know where they find these people, they seem really quite odd.

Because the party no longer represents what she believes in?

So either she needs to get a bigger influence and change it, thole it or leave it imo.

There is no doubt she is being treated unfairly and can take that to court, would you want to stay with a party that forced you into that?

All SNP members vote for who should be on the list for the regional vote. Most votes received = top spot.

That's rule two, which was changed yesterday when despite legal advice telling them this was unlikely to survive a legal challenge, the NEC created a new shortlist for first place on the list - BAME in four regions, disability in four others - which of course disregards members' votes.

Rule one was that the top spot on the regional list always goes to the sitting MSP. That was changed when the NEC gave itself sweeping new powers over the summer.

In theory she should tell them to fuck off and join a party that better suits

But why should she? She's been an SNP supporter and feminist since her teens.

It says a lot to me that they are clearly terrified of the voters being allowed to vote for her.

who could possibly be against improving BAME and disabled representation?

Yes Mhairi Hunter was shouting that a lot on Twitter last night, as if so long as it's got a nice disguise of being in a good cause it's fine! And if you moan about all the many, many issues you hate BAME and disabled people you big meanies! The means absolutely justifies the end (and don't look at the dodgy bits! Only bad people look at the dodgy bits!)

Honestly, this kind of tactic is so old hat now it's baffling they're still trying it.

It's a tough thing to separate. In theory she should tell them to fuck off and join a party that better suits. However the independence campaign overrides all and dissent from the party line is punished.

I hate the SNP and hate the way that they are treating women.

For me I'd be happy to support her in telling them to fuck off entirely but I cannot with a clear conscience support the odious corrupt SNP in any guise.

Do you only want people who agree with you?

You don't care. Got it. Understand that point of view. You don't need to keep repeating it.

This is mindboggling in that it was done in the full face of knowing it was illegal. The second time too that the rules have been swiftly changes to prevent a candidate standing: they're obviously afraid of democracy and don't want the voters allowed a say.

This is the SNP imploding in real time.

Anyway - in the spirit of the Bunbury guidelines....

@Sarahandduck18, yes, I suspect there will be legal challenges, but there will be a huge push against that from the #WheestforIndy brigade.

And those in favour of the move will launch a smear campaign - after all, who could possibly be against improving BAME and disabled representation?

She's still SNP; being "gender critical" isn't the be all and end all. It's of no concern to me that it's the end of her political career.

Why are you here then? Perhaps you could leave the thread to those of us who do want to share and discuss our concern that another woman is being manoeuvred out of her job because she won’t chant TWAW?

[quote OllyBJolly]@MissBarbary She is being attacked for standing up for women -knowing this is putting her political career in jeopardy. Hardly "one side of a political ideology".[/quote]
She's still SNP; being "gender critical" isn't the be all and end all. It's of no concern to me that it's the end of her political career.

I imagine this is going to be legally challenged.

It’s such a back hand way of pushing someone out.

But this is what all political parties are like.

@MissBarbary She is being attacked for standing up for women -knowing this is putting her political career in jeopardy. Hardly "one side of a political ideology".

On a feminist discussion, could you put your SNP hatred to the side and support a woman under attack?

Why? I'm sure Babdoc will speak for herself but I'm not sure why just because McAlpine is a woman I should support one side of a political ideology I despise just because another side of that ideology is giving her a hard time.

@Babdoc - you come onto every thread that might have a link to the SNP just to slate them. We get you're not in favour of the SNP. I'm not either.

This thread is about Joan McAlpine who has bravely spoken up about women's rights. On a feminist discussion, could you put your SNP hatred to the side and support a woman under attack?

Could we keep the thread on topic please.

There are plenty of other places to share views on the merits or otherwise of dissolving the union.

He and his website were vile during the 2014 separatist campaign. And not particularly truthful

This is a matter of opinion - coloured by whether you are pro or anti-independence. His research and stats were invaluable for the pro-indy supporters.

However GC Cherry may be, she is still a member of the SNP. Hitler was a vegetarian, but I still wouldn’t have voted for his party!
The SNP have made a mess of every devolved area they have been given to administer. God help us in Scotland if they ever got their wish to tear Britain apart.

"Horrible" or "rude" (or "offensive")? Those are not synonyms

He and his website were vile during the 2014 separatist campaign. And not particularly truthful.

Joanna Cherry is allied with Alex Salmond

Salmond was of course found not guilty but even his own QC said his conduct had fallen far below acceptable standards. Cherry demanded his reinstatement as soon as the verdict was announced. Cherry's ambition is to be leader and she's tapping into the support Salmond has (see how quickly his crowdfunder filled up)

I don't buy Cherry as the great feminist hope and supporter of women.

He is a horrible man- you don't have to be woke to think that.

"Horrible" or "rude" (or "offensive")? Those are not synonyms.

A lot of this Woke stuff utterly relies on people "being nice" to the Good People while being utterly horrible to anyone in the out group, and having a rather partisan attitude to truth or fairness. Which is horrible.

The people who stand up to it generally seem to be people who are not interesting in playing at "being nice", and are rather non-partisan in that. Which is good.

Most of the people I most respect in journalism have the same basic "I don't care if you think I'm an asshole" attitude that Campbell seems to exhibit. Don't know enough about Campbell's accuracy record to know how much respect he deserves, but I'm generally inclined to believe people with his attitude are more trustworthy.

I thought it was his general and non- specific unpleasantness that got him banned.

I'm pretty sure it was misgendering or similar.

Just to add - I believe Alex Salmond is no longer a member of the SNP. I suspect he will not return to politics despite many wanting him.

Craig Murray writes that Salmond had intended to take a post as Chairman of Johnston Press:-

18. I asked what the motive could be. Alex replied that he did not know ; perhaps it lay in King Lear. He said that he had genuinely intended to quit politics and had lined up a position as Chairman of Johnstone Press, which had fallen because of these allegations. But he had retired from the party leadership before, and then come back, and perhaps Nicola had concluded he needed a stake through the heart. He had made plain to her that he was not happy with her lack of progress towards an Independence referendum following the Brexit vote.