Joanna Cherry sacked from Westminster front bench

Grumpycatsmum · 01/02/2021 15:33

Assuming he was just the messenger boy and order came from FM. Not an SNP supporter but I thought Joanna Cherry was one of their better representative. Her views on the gender recognition discussion must be one reason and one of the few who could challenge FM. Whole attitude to this debate feels like a threat to free speech actually.

MissBarbary · 01/02/2021 21:59

@Sarahandduck18

Just seen this online.

Was this Ian Blackford’s decision or from some other pressure in the party?

As if there aren’t already enough divisions.

The more the better.

ssd · 01/02/2021 22:42

I like JC.
This doesn't reflect well on the Scottish government. Especially NS.

MissBarbary · 02/02/2021 01:20

@ssd

I like JC. This doesn't reflect well on the Scottish government. Especially NS.

Does anything ever reflect well on the Scottish Government?

I'm very sorry Cherry is getting threats today but beyond that I'm rather enjoying this. I don't like either of them.

PinkyParrot · 02/02/2021 07:34

I suspect the trans issue - apparently many younger SNP Msps were threatening to resign because of the requirement for medical evidence etc for transitioning.
I think I read this on BBC news but cannot see it now.

PersonaNonGarter · 02/02/2021 07:49

Joanna Cherry is intellectually capable and has actually got a track record of achievement.

Firing her is a misstep. The SNP should have kept her in the tent pissing out.

Tbh, the SNP looks like it’s melting from the centre.

titsbumfannythelot · 02/02/2021 07:51

I like JC, although I don't share her independence objective.

I agree firing her was a mistake.

justanotherneighinparadise · 02/02/2021 07:54

Massive mistake. They are removing huge intelligence and experience and replacing it with younger individuals who think foot stamping will yield results.

TheDuchessOfAquitaine · 02/02/2021 07:57

If it was not for her overwhelming views on independence, I would happily vote for JC. I think she is a very capable, astute and somehow seems to be more credible and have greater integrity than most of her SNP peers (or maybe she is just a better actor!). I think it is a shame that she has been sidelined. I hope she goes independent. I wouldn’t be surprised if she retained her seat.

MichelleScarn · 02/02/2021 08:03

I do like JC, although agree her overwhelming view on independence is a bit too much for me, but l think she is very good at what she does/was doing? I haven't read too much on this yet, but are the SNP really putting the gender recognition issue above the Indyvote which I thought was their be-all? Or is this there way of saying see we don't just focus on indyref ?

titsbumfannythelot · 02/02/2021 08:07

I think it's their way of saying 'Allies of Alex Salmond will be sidelined' with a helping of transphobia allegations.

anon444877 · 02/02/2021 08:11

Suspect the SNP is trying to get more of its youth vote to turn out and has given up on women over a certain age. I hope JC and Wightman stand as independent, the SNP have few well qualified politicians.

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/02/2021 08:36

JC could jump to the ISP which would be a huge coup for them.

ASmallMovie · 02/02/2021 09:37

It’s undoubtedly NS’s call and all part of the SNP’s expulsion and intolerance of gender critical feminists.

May I cut and paste from
A threat I tried to start but didn’t take of...

In the last 24 hours, Joanna Cherry has been sacked from the front-bench and measures have been introduced to make it impossible for Joan McAlpine to be re-elected. Both these women are feminists and vocal campaigners for the protection of the hard-won sex-based rights of women and children. Nothing they have said or written is transphobic.

Also, Humza Yousef has bowed to pressure and decided not to proceed with an amendment which would protect people who are fighting for girls and women's rights.

I have lost all respect for Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. Was planning to vote for them in May, but now find that impossible.
This is a depressing, shameful state of affairs.

If you are interested in reading more, this is a great thread -

twitter.com/ForwomenScot?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

alicewasahorse · 02/02/2021 12:47

I think it's their way of saying 'Allies of Alex Salmond will be sidelined' with a helping of transphobia allegation

this

Californiabakes · 02/02/2021 12:58

I don't think its as simple as the trans issue. Joanna is know to brief against the party and individuals and no political party will stand for that. Shes very capable but acts more as a lawyer than a politician. She’s made few friends on political circles. I used to really like her but now I’m unsure of her motives. I actually used to know her many years ago.

anon444877 · 02/02/2021 13:24

well new labour put up with Jeremy Corbyn voting against the labour whip for years. Ditto tory euro sceptics. Why are the SNP the only party that isn't able to cope with differing factions? Jostling for ascendancy within a party is the day in day out business of politics.

Californiabakes · 02/02/2021 13:27

I didn’t say voting against, I said briefing against which is a very different thing.

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/02/2021 13:32

I think the timing makes it fairly clear it's the trans issue at least in significantly part, especially when there's moves to oust Joan McAlpin too

wintermoths · 02/02/2021 13:34

@TheDuchessOfAquitaine

If it was not for her overwhelming views on independence, I would happily vote for JC. I think she is a very capable, astute and somehow seems to be more credible and have greater integrity than most of her SNP peers (or maybe she is just a better actor!). I think it is a shame that she has been sidelined. I hope she goes independent. I wouldn’t be surprised if she retained her seat.

This.

I find NS to be an incredibly cynical politician. Her key skill is marketing and communication and I am amazed that people interpret this as authenticity.

NS is desperate to hold onto young activists and supporters and she will happily shove her feminist colleagues, women and vulnerable women under a bus to do this.

Her intolerance of difference in her party is a disgrace, and she has continued Alex Salmond's authoritarian approach to ruling the SNP. Tony Blair, for all his faults, tolerate a diversity of views in the Labour Party. How ironic that those, like NS, in the name of diversity accept only homogeneity.

anon444877 · 02/02/2021 13:40

I fail to see the critical difference, briefing against and voting against go hand in hand - voting against your party is a matter of record. The old labour faction and eurosceptic tories briefed against their party constantly - many headlines in the daily telegraph must've been leaks from eurosceptics.

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/02/2021 13:48

And it was fairly constant under Corbyn too. I think the comparison betwee current snp and Corbyn/Momentum labour is a fair one

Californiabakes · 02/02/2021 14:32

The critical difference is that one is out in the open and the other is not. The SNP have found JC to be a divisive force and for all her undoubted positive attributes she lacks some political acumen.

I agree that the trans issue is relevant but its by no means the whole story.

JudgeRindersMinder · 02/02/2021 14:39

@ssd

I like JC. This doesn't reflect well on the Scottish government. Especially NS.

And the more of this the better! I think (hope!) at the moment that Sturgeon is flying a bit too high, hopefully she’s in for a fall very soon

Californiabakes · 02/02/2021 15:19

And, its a Westminster front bench reshuffle. The SNP want to put their strongest team forward for the May elections in Scotland. JC just isn't on message and as I've said before is seen as divisive within the party.