Scottish Parliament final debate on Gender Recognition Reform today

[ArabellaScott]

At some point after 2pm, in the Big Room (the Chamber).

www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/whats-on-and-watch-live/whats-on#wm

Will be interesting to see how the Amendments go down, if they are all struck down as the ScotGov wishes - www.holyrood.com/news/view,gender-recognition-reform-crunch-vote-after-shona-robison-warns-msps-over-amendments

'the Scottish Conservatives have warned that the debate could lead to a "travesty of democracy" because a 15 minute time limit for each proposal will "shut down" discussion.'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64032916

'this parliament's reptuation is in freefall'

'an example of what happens when an executive is allowed to go unchecked'

Jeremy Balfour raising issues of long session and how hard that is for people with disabilities and caring committments.

Breaking for 15 minutes at 6pm

I can't follow but will read along. Thanks, OP.

I won't be able to be here for all of it! But will do what I can when I'm here.

Current muttering and discussion about notifications and amendments and procedure.

Suspending parliament while they check everyone has the correct amendments.

One MSP said he thought this would be used as a case study (ie into things being done badly). Didn't catch his name. But it was not strong criticism and not said with venom (he was really just reading off a page), and the reaction was as though he'd...well...protested outside the EHRC, shall we say.

How thin skinned are these people?

Yes, he was first to speak. I'm not sure who he was - a Tory.

I'm going to have to do the school run ... session still suspended.

If this is the case, I think it is a serious miscalculation. Usually this works - interference by WM pisses off Scots voters and is a boost for independence. But this is so unpopular that I think a lot of people - me (a long-term staunch supporter of independence) included - will be thankful that WM is able to do this (if they are!) and it will weakens the case for independence.

So confused as the SNP stance on this. They are so disciplined and so canny usually. I could see them jumping on this bandwagon because it looked good, and then frantically backing off when it proved to be so unpopular. Driving the bus over the cliff is unfathamable to me. Maybe just a case of a government that’s been in power too long and thinks it’s invincible.

They're trying to shift it into the New Year ...

Full transcript of last night's committee evidence hearing is available here archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=14062&mode=pdf

Who is trying to shift it?

People waiting to get into the chamber ... tickets have been alocated

Seems staff have been contacting SOME people to discuss this:

twitter.com/pickle_bee/status/1605002885816881152

Some SNP MSPs not supporting according to this:

twitter.com/phughes74470229/status/1605195704259215366?s=46&t=jMmWZ9vITeasOuGe_0adsA

I would bloody hope that someone in Paliament has not sent the 'lovely' Beth that message.

Highly unprofessional.

Beth is a ned. Being trans has nothing to do with the fact that Beth is a ned.

Beth is someone I would not want to meet in a female space or on a dark night somewhere.

The GRA is devolved to Scotland. The Equality Act isn't.

I don't know why anyone thought this was a good idea at the time given the complex interaction between GRA and EQA. But here we are...

And Beth is clearly rattled? Why? The bill is going to pass surely.

Unfortunately, I think it will pass - but the sunlight is not going to go away. I imagine Beth and others of their ilk might be concerned about the bright light that will shine into the darker corners of the TRA movement.

Thanks Nonny I hadn't realised the GRA was devolved.

Thabks for updates, i can't figure out how to watch it

www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-december-20-2022

Link to watch.

Rachel Hamilton on now talking about the CAss report and asking why the Scotgov isn't heeding it.

Yep, sounds pretty partial and unfair if Scottish Parliament staff are 1. using slurs to refer to women based on their beliefs and 2. seem to be trying to obstruct women from taking part in political process in a perfectly lawful and acceptable way.

Claire Baker raising Amendments wrt Cass Review.