Scottish Labour overture to JKR?

She continues to impress me more and more.

Absolute Ledge Queen

Very nicely done, that.

JKR has played a blinder by saying she would happily meet them- once the other women's groups, such as LBG Alliance and Labour's Women Declaration meet first...

...who all then followed up to say they were available on Twitter.

There's also got to some sort of incentive for Labour to be hanging on to the trans wagon. Lots of donors to keep sweet including the big unions.

I think he sees 'men in dresses' as 'sub men' and therefore inferior to him and other 'real men'. And that's why he thinks it's undignified to publicly go through that process.

I also think he finds it embarrassing to talk about, as does Keir. They are so squeamish about the whole subject and always, always refer to trans 'dignity' when asked about women's rights.

They are so visibly uncomfortable in their body language, you can literally see them squirm. It's like a dad being asked to talk about periods with his daughter. He would rather be anywhere else.

He's saying look everyone, the Labour Party are so reasonable and care about women. There's obviously been a misunderstanding about this issue from JKR and we just need to meet her and mansplain explain to the silly little lady.

Yes what flipping indignity is he talking about? A need to live in your new identity before a Dr signs off on a major change and an online application and £5? Try applying for disability benefits and the indignity of that!

How very interesting that the thing that never comes up on the doorstep and that no one cares about and only affects a tiny percentage of the population and that nasty women have made in to a toxic debate is suddenly rather important to the LP.

Hmmmm...🤔

Labour seem to have a complete inability to listen. It's actually quite weird.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has told BBC Scotland News that he's "more than happy" to have a conversation with Harry Potter author JK Rowling in order to try and convince her to support the Labour party.

Parse that sentence again because what he has actually said is that he wants to convince JKR to support Labour. Not ''I want to hear why she stopped supporting Labour and see what we can change to in her support back''.

JKR should suggest a televised discussion with Anas Sarwar or Keir Starmer-preferably live so it can't be edited.

Hummm I'm a sceptical old crone & think asking to talk is just a handy way to bat away questions about it.
"what do you think about what JKR wrote/said/thinks"
"I have said I would be delighted to speak with JKR"
no actual information given...
I hope JKR makes it happen but I bet Labour say they have scheduling issues

Reacting to her comments, a Labour spokesperson said: “Sex and gender are different, as Labour’s Equality Act makes clear.
"That’s why we have consistently said that we will not introduce self ID and that we will protect single sex spaces for biological women."
this sounds great until you remember that Starmer goes out of his way never to say single sex spaces, always the muddy "safe spaces"

And "the SNP pinkie promised that the legislation wouldn't do what is said it would" is beyond contemptible.

Asked why he has voted for legislation in Scotland aimed at making it easier for someone to change their legally-recognised sex, the Scottish Labour leader says he did so after the SNP gave a "cast iron guarantee" it wouldn't negatively impact the UK-wide Equality Act.

Does he think this makes him look in any way good, or credible? "Bigger boys done it and run away." For goodness sake, he whipped MSPs to vote for legislation that hadn't been properly scrutinised, and he resolutely ignored all the women's groups who pointed out courteously, coherently and at length the many conflicts with the Equality Act. I remember him being told over and over again how ineffective Pam Duncan-Glancy's amendment saying that nothing in the gender recognition reform bill would affect the Equality Act was: like a child putting "it wasn't me" on the empty biscuit tin. When he admits that he should have listened to women and apologises for being too ready to accept a useless "cast iron guarantee" from the SNP, then there's something to talk about. Until then, he comes across as an unprincipled numpty.

I don’t understand why they are pretending to care. It’s looking increasingly likely the Tories will be wiped out in 2 weeks time. A few women voting independent or spoiling their ballots won’t change that.

I wonder why they don’t just go all in with self ID? They obviously have zero respect for women. And they’re living in La La Land if they think this half measure is going to please TRAs for more than a millisecond because men will still need a diagnosis to apply for a a special certificate before they are recognised by the state as women. Nobody will be thanking them any more than when the Tories lowered the fee and put the process online. The whole thing will just be a waste of time and money.

And the lawsuits will continue because the law will remain an incomprehensible fudge.

JK has played a blinder once again. The top or second story on BBC news all day.
Labour know they will be asked about this all next week so have had to requeat to “talk”.
I very much hope JK will meet and be able to get actual details from them re what the heck they will do when in power.

Given that you can change your name from male to female on utility bills, passports and driving licenses without a GRC and then use those changed documents as proof that you should be given a GRC the entire process is circular and bonkers.

The GRC applicant doesn’t go in front of an actual panel to be assessed and if their paperwork is correct and complete they’re very unlikely to be refused a GRC. Where’s the indignity and humiliation in that paperwork exercise?

Claiming Disability benefits is a humiliating and undignified affair that should get priority for being changed well before anyone looks into making GRC application procedures easier.

I bet if Sawar was put on the spot and asked what the process for changing gender in Scotland is,he wouldn't have a clue. He is just spouting stock phrases.

But in any case TRAs are not going to settle for a piece of paper that says their gender is now recognised (whatever the hell that means) if it does not given them access to women's single-sex spaces.

All politicians are going to have to realise that in this mess there is no compromise position that keeps everyone happy. It would have been found long ago if it existed. One side is going to be very disappointed and politicians are going to have to decide whether it should be half the population or a much smaller group consisting mainly of middle aged men in dresses and vulnerable young girls.

Sounds like he's worried her very public stance on women's rights, self ID and the Labour party might be influential.

JKR is very much a grown up and quite forgiving so I think she will agree to discuss the issues with him. I'm less grown up and would tell him to go fuck himself.

Venting my anger would give me momentary satisfaction. Having a conversation is more productive but I resent that, no matter how badly we're treated, we're expected to suppress our anger in order to be taken seriously and get anything done.

"Indignity"? They should try applying for disability benefits.

Now THAT'S Indignity.

I suspect Anas Sarwar is not trying to make a word salad. He's just not very articulate, from when I've listened to him speak.

I bet she takes him up on the offer.

And it would be useful to set the record straight. There's no indignity to any of it. A fiver, change of name on a gas bill and a note from your GP.

This lie that it's some kind of ordeal needs correcting.

having to persuade a GP you are not your born sex, (instead of just saying so) in oder to get a piece of paper to confirm that. As if that changes anything at all.

a "grown up approach" that removes the "indignity" of the process of changing sex, but still protects single sex spaces "based on biological sex"

Well if he knows and agrees with what she is saying already why does he need to meet with JKR. Just get on and speak about it within your party. Get them to go public with this statement.

(Although he needs to amend it to the process of changing gender as obviously sex can't be changed)

£5 and a note from their doctor.

I have various friends who've been though the UK spousal visa, citizenship and foreign office security vetting processes. All considerably more intrusive (and a lot more expensive, in the case of the first 2).

God love Anas Sarwar, he must have at least given some thought to what this issue has done to the SNP. And yet he still comes out with the word salad, because stating a clear and sensible position might make Keir sad.

Interesting however that he felt the need to say anything.

So they've still not figured out you can't square this circle then.

Slow handclap.