Nicola Sturgeon throws Joanna Cherry under the bus

[Whatdoyoudowhendemocracyfails]

twitter.com/nicolasturgeon/status/1354521063502336001?s=21

Personal statement condemning transphobia in response to the number of young members leaving and giving this as their reason.

I’m not sure what the statement has to do with JC?

So despite Joanna and many other women asking repeatedly that she condemn the violent threats made against women for defending our rights she wasn't able to find the time to do that.

Would be helpful if the First Minister defined exactly what she believes transphobia is.

Welcome to FWR, OP.

Personally I doubt Joanna Cherry would disagree with a word of that statement: transphobia is bad, trans people do have a right to be safe, the SNP should work to change the Impression that it is transphobic, there should be a free debate about gender recognition.

Have I missed some other event which would link this to JC specifically? I'm sure NS would like rid of her as a rival but I don't see any content in this video.

People are linking this to Cherry because she was criticised on Twitter yesterday by OutforIndy for her support of Sarah Phillmore and called for OutforIndy to be disciplined by the party leadership.

Not sure what point you’re making with your “welcome”, @donquixotedelamancha - you are familiar with name changing on MN?

Ah, thanks OP. No guts to actually attack JC then but happy to put the boot in through hints.

In fairness I doubt it's either a surprise or a concern Joanna seems indefatigable.

NS talked about no debate being a cover for transphobia. Er, actually the no debate comes from TRA and supporters so I'm not sure what she is talking about. Yes, Nicola let's have an open discussion about it all.

No point. Literally thought you were new.

Not all newbies are well intentioned so my reply was cautious, but no hidden other meaning.

It's all to do with Joanna Cherry. I loathe the SNP so have no interest really in which deluded separatist leads it but Cherry is Sturgeon's main (only?) rival for leader. This is a not very thinly veiled attack on Cherry.

I'm not particularly "gender critical" but I'm absolutely disgusted that with all that is wrong in Scotland under her leadership that she chooses this to make a special pronouncement on.

lots of women (including myself) have left the party because of the antics of some of its TRAs but we don’t get a special video.

Felt it interesting that she mentioned transphobia, racism and homophobia no mention of misogyny or sexism. Hard for me to be dispassionate as can't stand the woman or SNP but she appears to be hanging on with her fingertips

Goodness knows who I can vote for in May!

NS cares only about protecting her woke youngster future voting population.

I despair because I am beginning to be afraid that there will never come a time when this nonsense swings back.

”NS talked about no debate being a cover for transphobia.”

I don’t think she was talking about “no debate” being a cover for transphobia, though that was how I initially interpreted it too. She was saying, in effect, that if there was a debate, then those in that debate mustn’t use the it as a cover for using “transphobic” tropes. She’s implying that gender critical women are unable to debate because they’re so unreasonable.

This comes at an interesting time in SNP politics and I found myself wondering, as I listened, whether she might be about to use this as an excuse to resign. Given Craig Murray’s revelations, this does look like quite a good dead cat, thrown on the table, as it were.

@HmmSureJan

NS cares only about protecting her woke youngster future voting population.

I despair because I am beginning to be afraid that there will never come a time when this nonsense swings back.

They will be hoping enough "coffin dodgers" who voted against their ridiculous separatist nonsense last time have since died.

I find it utterly depressing that anyone supports the SNP. I seriously question their intelligence.

This comes at an interesting time in SNP politics and I found myself wondering, as I listened, whether she might be about to use this as an excuse to resign. Given Craig Murray’s revelations, this does look like quite a good dead cat, thrown on the table, as it were.

I wondered that although she doesn't strike me as the resigning type. I haven't been following closely but I understand there's a lot going on re cover ups or such like to do with Alex Salmond.

Somebody else is probably better informed to guess whether her time as leader is nearly up.

I don’t think she was talking about “no debate” being a cover for transphobia, though that was how I initially interpreted it too. She was saying, in effect, that if there was a debate, then those in that debate mustn’t use the it as a cover for using “transphobic” tropes.

Thank you Any I had though she was declaring #nodebate to be transphobic which made me I think you’re right & she had an odd flow to her —totally off the cuff — speech there.

Basically open debate is good so long as women aren’t actually allowed to make any arguments

Female prisoners locked up with abusive males don’t worry her a bit but people getting the sads & flouncing get a special wee message.

So powerless so so voiceless

Thanks Any. It was odd phrasing though. How can we have debate if it's one sided though?

“I haven't been following closely but I understand there's a lot going on re cover ups or such like to do with Alex Salmond.”

The allegation made is that the case against Salmond was concocted by an inner circle in the party and that Nicola Sturgeon didn’t just know, but was at the centre of the plotting. So quite a big accusation. No idea if it’s true, but the timing of this move, so soon after the accusation, is interesting.

The number of responses thanking her and demanding she "sack" Cherry and McAlpine is staggering. Everyone in Scotland who actually believes in this pish must be on Twitter.

I wondered that although she doesn't strike me as the resigning type.

No politician is the resigning type until the moment comes when they have to resign.

This is the second time NS has spoken up to defend the TRAs in her party. She does not speak out in the same way to defend women in her party, particularly JC, who receive vile amounts of abuse from TRAs / MRAs.

I agree with other posters that this may well be a distraction technique. Craig Murray has published his submission to the court today. If it is shown that NS conspired to use fake rape accusations to get Salmond out of politics for good that is abhorrent in a lot of different ways.

I immediately thought it was a push at Joanna Cherry.

Wings over Scotland points out Scotgov haven't done any work on independence or much else because covid, but have plenty of time to work on gender

wingsoverscotland.com/how-the-time-flies/

Murray is absolutely right that his blog was the only place to read Salmond’s defence, which included such absolute horrors as one of the women being proven not present at Bute House on the date she alleged the assault took place. It stinks to high heaven.

This comes at an interesting time in SNP politics and I found myself wondering, as I listened, whether she might be about to use this as an excuse to resign. Given Craig Murray’s revelations, this does look like quite a good dead cat, thrown on the table, as it were.

She'll not resign in a million years. I can see her sacking almost anyone else to keep her position, though.

As for her speech, it was all pretty reasonable, as far as I can see. Of course transphobia is wrong and trans people should be protected from abuse and threats. Naebody is debating that. I suppose the only shite bit of her speech is not being clear enough that gc feminist arguments and debate over women's rights are not transphobia.