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Green councillor (Glasgow) cleared after calling gender-critical people ‘Nazis’

59 replies

IwantToRetire · 30/07/2024 00:04

Councillor Elaine Gallagher said “extremists” had attended a Let Women Speak rally in the centre of Glasgow and linked the crowd to the murders and attempted suicides of trans people.

In a case that hinged on the definition of the term 'Nazi', a watchdog has decided it would not be appropriate to censure the elected politician for comments made about the February 2023 event.

Gender recognition reform critic Posie Parker was a speaker at the rally, which took place in the city's George Square and attracted a counter-protest in support of LGBT rights.

Gallagher, a city bailie who represents the Southside Central district, was reported to the Standards Commission over comments made at a full meeting of Glasgow City Council.

At a hearing, the panel found she had breached the provision in the Councillors’ Code of Conduct which requires local politicians to “treat others with courtesy and respect”.

However, the panel said she had “enhanced protection of freedom of expression as a politician commenting on a matter of public interest”.
The watchdog said it could not justify any restrictions on this right due to the circumstances of the case and a formal finding of a breach of the code of conduct could not be made.

Dr Lezley Stewart, chair of the hearing panel, said: “The panel found that, in her speech, Cllr Gallagher stated that some of those attending a rally in respect of women’s rights were Nazis and, as such, inferred that they had extreme far right views and subscribed to an ideology based on ideas of racial, social and biological purity.”

Article continues at https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,green-councillor-cleared-after-calling-trans-critics-nazis

Green councillor cleared after calling trans critics ‘Nazis’

Green councillor cleared after calling trans critics ‘Nazis’ over Glasgow rally

https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,green-councillor-cleared-after-calling-trans-critics-nazis

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 30/07/2024 03:09

Retiredfromthere · Today 02:38

So really anything goes as long as you are speaking from the right side?

Apparently so.

lonelywater · 30/07/2024 03:01

notinscotland · 30/07/2024 02:54

... Gallagher is entitled to express her views “in a forthright and even robust manner”, and noted that the speech was made in the context of discrimination she faces as a transgender woman.' But everything that the people Gallagher slandered did or said was also in the context of the structural and systemic discrimination they face as women, and in some cases as lesbians or as members of various marginalised communities who are disproportionately disadvantaged by the erosion of women's rights and single-sex spaces and services. So would it be similarly OK (perhaps even more so, as they are members of the public and not elected officials) for them now to make false statements about and go on record with whatever random slurs they can invent about Gallagher? Generally, if one can't coherently and accurately criticise someone's actions or views (and yes, that includes women's actions and views; we are each "someone") without using hateful discriminatory language, it's precisely because you are a bigot.

Edited

is that available in an English translation?

notinscotland · 30/07/2024 02:54

... Gallagher is entitled to express her views “in a forthright and even robust manner”, and noted that the speech was made in the context of discrimination she faces as a transgender woman.' But everything that the people Gallagher slandered did or said was also in the context of the structural and systemic discrimination they face as women, and in some cases as lesbians or as members of various marginalised communities who are disproportionately disadvantaged by the erosion of women's rights and single-sex spaces and services. So would it be similarly OK (perhaps even more so, as they are members of the public and not elected officials) for them now to make false statements about and go on record with whatever random slurs they can invent about Gallagher? Generally, if one can't coherently and accurately criticise someone's actions or views (and yes, that includes women's actions and views; we are each "someone") without using hateful discriminatory language, it's precisely because you are a bigot.

Retiredfromthere · 30/07/2024 02:38

An example of listening to the views of trans people/activists?
'And members agreed that while the debate around transgender and women’s rights is “extremely polarised”, Gallagher is entitled to express her views “in a forthright and even robust manner”, and noted that the speech was made in the context of discrimination she faces as a transgender woman.'

So really anything goes as long as you are speaking from the right side?

LiterallyOnFire · 30/07/2024 02:27

lonelywater · 30/07/2024 00:41

So, an elected official slings around the "Nazis" slur and that's fine. From the article this particular zinger stands out-

  "there was “sufficient factual basis” for Gallagher’s contention that the rally had been “attended by Nazis”, even if this was “entirely inaccurate”, the watchdog said.

These twats couldn't run a fucking whelk stall.

That is outrageously illogical gobbledygook.

SinnerBoy · 30/07/2024 02:03

What? So they conceded that there were no Nazis present, that there was no evidence to support the claim, but because of free speech, she was entitled to say it.

Head explodes

lonelywater · 30/07/2024 01:42

IwantToRetire · 30/07/2024 01:25

And this!

the panel said she had “enhanced protection of freedom of expression as a politician commenting on a matter of public interest”.

The watchdog said it could not justify any restrictions on this right due to the circumstances of the case and a formal finding of a breach of the code of conduct could not be made

Since when did being an elected politician give you the right to slur and mis represent people?

Never heard anything like it.

Added to which at a time that many have called for politicians to tone it down and not resort to personal attacks, what is this tribunal thinking?

Or maybe they aren't thinking.

They are just another government organisation that has been transed ie given the right to do what they want or feel.

Unlike women who are meant to STFU and accept their inferior rights as the best they are ever going to get.

Show quote history

Scotland, from here in sunny Surrey, does look like a very small world anyone who is anyone must be on the koolaid (unless they want the Jo Cherry treatment). Getting these fucking headbangers out and replaced with people demonstrably from planet earth is going to take years.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 30/07/2024 01:25

lonelywater · 30/07/2024 00:41

So, an elected official slings around the "Nazis" slur and that's fine. From the article this particular zinger stands out-

  "there was “sufficient factual basis” for Gallagher’s contention that the rally had been “attended by Nazis”, even if this was “entirely inaccurate”, the watchdog said.

These twats couldn't run a fucking whelk stall.

And this!

the panel said she had “enhanced protection of freedom of expression as a politician commenting on a matter of public interest”.

The watchdog said it could not justify any restrictions on this right due to the circumstances of the case and a formal finding of a breach of the code of conduct could not be made

Since when did being an elected politician give you the right to slur and mis represent people?

Never heard anything like it.

Added to which at a time that many have called for politicians to tone it down and not resort to personal attacks, what is this tribunal thinking?

Or maybe they aren't thinking.

They are just another government organisation that has been transed ie given the right to do what they want or feel.

Unlike women who are meant to STFU and accept their inferior rights as the best they are ever going to get.

OP posts:
lonelywater · 30/07/2024 00:41

So, an elected official slings around the "Nazis" slur and that's fine. From the article this particular zinger stands out-

  "there was “sufficient factual basis” for Gallagher’s contention that the rally had been “attended by Nazis”, even if this was “entirely inaccurate”, the watchdog said.

These twats couldn't run a fucking whelk stall.