Campaign in Scotland

These responses are maddening.

Neither replied to me about SG not using the word women in their latest campaign on cervical cancer and why the word women was not used which I asked

Lorna slater

Good afternoon,

Thank you for writing to me about your concerns.

Myself, and the Scottish Green Party, wholeheartedly support the rights of trans people including that of self-identification. Trans rights and women’s rights are not in conflict, as all humans have the same human rights. The human rights of minority groups should not be open to debate and interpretation, they should be accepted.

The Scottish Greens stand firmly for inclusive, intersectional feminism which recognises the intersectional nature of power which creates additional barriers for women facing multiple discriminations. You can read more about this here: greens.scot/womens-pledge.

In the recent cooperation agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government we agreed to reform the Gender Recognition act to establish a more straightforward system for obtaining legal gender recognition for trans people. I believe that trans people should not have to go through a degrading, traumatic and intrusive process to be legally recognised in their gender.

I hope that you agree that we must do more to improve the lives of the trans community who have been the target of a hate campaign for the past few years.

Regards,

From labour daniel Johnston

Thank you for getting in touch to share your concerns around the planned Gender Recognition Legislation. Let me start by saying that I think it is vital that we ensure that a calm and clear discussion on these matters is able to take place. Recently there has been an atmosphere of tension and hostility around the conversation on Trans rights, and this is concerning.

This is not a clear cut issue for me. I believe in equality for all, and fairness for Trans and non-binary people. I also hold concerns around the rights of women, and believe that medicalised approaches to many issues – such as a distinction between sex and gender and safe spaces for women – are important. As a dad of two daughters I take this issue very seriously, and it is important to me to listen to the concerns of all my constituents on both sides of this discussion.

Ultimately I stand by the stance Scottish Labour took on this in our manifesto, which stated: “We will ensure that Scotland's transgender communities gain new rights. A Scottish Labour Government will change the law to provide legal recognition for people who do not identify as men or women and remove the psychiatric diagnosis requirement from legal gender recognition process. Scotland's young people who wish to seek legal recognition of the gender they live would be entitled to do so from the age of 16 under Scottish Labour."

I will continue to seek opportunities to discuss this further with colleagues and will work to ensure that these issues are properly considered as the debate makes its way through Parliament.

Kind regards

Hope she remembered fish knives for a fish supper.

Is there a deadline in this response being relevant? I'd like to write my own response but I dont want to reference a future vite if it has already taken place

Thanks

Lorna slater told us in Scotland to carry knives and forks in our bags so we wouldn’t get plastic knives and forks for our kebabs after a night out

Like that went down like a lead balloon.

This is an Australian climate organisation, but I think the points are probably just as true here.

Writing to MPs
Why write?

The word from insiders in MPs’ offices is that letters and emails are taken very seriously – and counted! For everyone who takes the time to raise an issue with them, they know there are many more people who feel the same way. If they receive lots of correspondence on a particular issue, it will be discussed in policy meetings and can have an effect on decision-making.

MPs are supposed to respond to all communications from their constituents, but they are much more likely to sit up and take notice of a personal email or letter as it shows their constituent cares enough to take the time. And it doesn’t matter if it’s an email or handwritten letter - they all count.

You don’t have to be an expert. Keep it short (a page or less) and personal. Write what you feel. Explain why the issue matters to you and what you want your MP to do about it.
How to do it:

General tips (based on feedback from MPs and staffers)

Put your letter in the main email window - don’t send it as an attachment!
Keep it short - one issue per letter is good
Include an “ask” - a request of what you want the MP to do (see this article)
Don’t agonise over the wording:
    The word from politicians and staffers is quality is important but it's quantity that really counts
    Your MP probably won’t read your email/letter themself - it will be a staff member in their office who will scan it, count the number of letters they receive on particular issues, and present a summary of correspondence to the MP
    The more correspondence they get on climate issues, the more seriously they will take them

The reply upset me too, knowing there are women who just give out the blanket statement of "be kind" etc. Without any debate, without any thought, without the desire to engage in communication.
They've swallowed the propaganda hook, line and sinker.
She's probably a lost cause.
Its scary that she's in a position of 'power'.

Well that was super easy to do - took 2 seconds will see what comes back .....

Yeah arabella let them know we are here

I added a few bits to the letter

My plan is to send hard copy letters to the ones I got an OOO reply from if I have heard back from them in a week.

I wanted to say that even if you only get an auto respond, or a crap response, it's still so important to contact MSPs so that they know that women care, that women are aware, and that we are not happy to let them wave away our rights.

It takes less than 10 seconds to send an email via that form, if you are happy to use the existing text.

Don't let them Jess Phillips on this. Make sure they know that this is an issue that people care about.

I am wondering if there is about to be an uptick in support for Scottish Tories.

Just googled. A Tory wonder what she will say

From sue. Don’t even know who sue is actually 🤦‍♀️

Sue Webber MSP

Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Lothian Region

Twitter: @SueJWebber

Facebook: @SueWebberMSPLothian

Website: suewebber.uk

Thank you for your email.

I am currently receiving very large numbers of emails and letters each day. I will try to reply to you as quickly as possible.

Please note that all communications, including emails, are dealt with in the order in which they are received.

If you are one of my constituents, please ensure you have included your full name and address.

If you haven’t, please resend your email with this information as Parliamentary convention prevents regional MSPs dealing with enquiries from out with their region.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Got this below. Nowt from slater so far just an automatic

Thank you for contacting me. This is an automated response to let you know that your email has been received.

There is a strict Parliamentary protocol which states that an MSP may only deal with enquiries and cases on behalf of their own constituents. Please ensure that included in your e-mail is your name, full postal address, including postcode. We require this information in order to deal with your email.

Please note that I am receiving an unprecedented volume of correspondence presently. My office and I will aim to respond to you as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience and please bear with us.

Please stay safe and follow the Government’s guidance.

Best wishes
Foysol Choudhury MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothian Region (Labour)

Greens response is obnoxious

Thanks for the link I'll do this later.

What a shower of S::t:es!!!

"On behalf of Gillian Mackay MSP, and the Scottish Green Party, I would like to wholeheartedly reiterate our support for the rights of trans people including that of self-identification. Trans rights and women’s rights are not in conflict, as all humans have the same human rights. The human rights of minority groups should not be open to debate and interpretation, they should be accepted."

Angus Robertson MSP has responded and flat out denied there is any conflict between trans rights and women's rights

*Thank you for your e-mail of November 10th.

It is a source of considerable regret that the issue of gender recognition reform has become so polarised and plagued with misinformation. The gender recognition reform proposals simplify the process of obtaining a gender recognition certificate for trans people. This has no legal or practical implications for the established rules around access to single-sex spaces.

For further information, please see the Scottish Government’s consultation analysis which addresses the concerns you raise.

Yours sincerely,

Angus

Angus Robertson MSP
Edinburgh Central*

Basically go away and don't bother your pretty little head dear!

I've had the awful Lorna Slater reply too. I actually found it really upsetting, and I'd thought I was hardened to all this by now. I think it was her sanctimony that got to me.

Is it worth replying? I know she's not going to change her mind, she's in too deep.