Scottish Labour back implementing Cass Report in Scotland

[fromorbit]

An interesting development yesterday which possibly played a part in recent changes in position in Scotland.

Jackie Baillie, Deputy Leader, and spokesperson for Health & Social Care speaking out in favour of implementing the Cass Review in Scotland in Edinburgh in Parliament.

"The findings of the Cass Review must be implemented in Scotland.

This is important for staff, the young people with gender dysphoria & their families.

The SNP Gov’t must be transparent & give a statement about implementation of the Cass review & the use of puberty blockers."

https://twitter.com/jackiebmsp/status/1780662949234794526

She followed this up by welcoming the stopping of Puberty blockers in Scotland today.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said she was “pleased” at the decision and urged the Government to lay out what changes will be made to treatment in the wake of the Cass Review.

“The guiding principle for all actions must be to ensure that young people with gender dysphoria get safe treatment,” she added.
“The messaging from the Scottish Government on the Cass report has been all over the place, leaving the public without clarity on this vital issue.”

It seems Scottish Labour have finally decided that gender could be a good weapon against the SNP and Greens in other words the TERFS were right all along. Ferrets going into full reverse. With the position of Wes Streeting and Labour on this it really was the only sensible course, but glad it has happened.

Obviously Scottish Labour has a long way to go yet, but it is a good sign.

This will be a key moment in the gender wars inside Labour too. All eyes on Wales now. Will Welsh Labour be the only part of Labour to refuse to back the Cass Report?

Watching with interest...let's hope this is the start of reality dawning for Labour.

I’m genuinely surprised that Labour in Scotland are being sensible on this issue.

Bunch of reasons.

General Election incoming in next 8 months. Scottish Labour have been gaining in the polls and might capture dozens of seats. Putting the knife into the floundering SNP in every way they can makes sense. Otherwise they leave gender as an issue for the Scottish Tories to use.

Self interest plus Reality finally Biting is a strong combination.

Scottish Labour are also attempting to amend the Hate Crime bill by adding sex as a characteristic it seems. Another obvious weak spot for the SNP:
https://news.sky.com/story/move-to-repeal-scotlands-new-hate-crime-laws-fails-after-holyrood-debate-13117165

Thank you for posting for that additional context 👍👍

If only the SNP/Greens could be persuaded to approach good sense on this issue. But here’s hoping that Scottish Labour & Tories might get their act together and act as a brake on future mad policy ideas.

Scotland is sometimes used as a testing ground; I'm sure Labour Head Office will be watching closely.

Bloody good work Jackie Baillie. I thought Anas Sarwar sounded hopelessly woolly on this the other day but if political expediency gives him the courage to make sensible decisions then good for him too. I'm so much closer to giving him a big x come polling day.

That sounds absolutely right, just a shame it's taken them this long to realise that supporting child safeguarding, women's rights and common sense is a vote winner, not a vote loser or side issue. Smart move to put forward the amendment to the Hate Crime Bill. Is there any chance of it passing, or is it just politicking?

The SNP has been untouchable far longer than is healthy for democracy or the party itself and those who support independence. Cass has given Labour the excuse/opportunity to strike at the SNP and claim to have experienced a Damascene conversion for itself.

The HCA had the possibility of 'sex' being written into it in it since it was passed.

I had assumed it was dependent on the separate 'Misogyny Bill' getting rammed through parliament badly discussed, but I don't know the timescale for that.

Great news, I hope the rest of them follow suit. DH had a email from Scottish Labour today signed with pronouns so I'll be cautiously waiting to see the rest of the ferret before celebrating.

Some Scottish Labour folk (thinking of Lamont and Jenny Marra here) have been great on women's rights but I'd been disappointed on the whole and let my membership lapse.

I agree with you, but there's something niggling at my mind.

How do parties know what the voters want at election time, but either don't have a clue, or don't care all the rest of the time? It feels like they don't give a fork most of the time.

I think the leaders are just out of touch. Boris Johnson had Cummings, Carrie and a little cadre of advisers. I am told that Corbyn had the same. Keir Starmer and Ed Davey - surrounded by a bunch of activists who the leaders imagine have their fingers on the pulse of the nation but they don't. If some backbenchers or party workers know better they are not listened to. Sunak as well, I'm guessing. It's like the groom of the stool or the lords of the bedchamber.

And then come election time, they get worried and finally start looking outside their little circle and get a nasty shock and announce U-turns etc.

Edited to be a more relevant response.

@Snowypeaks
Again I agree, but I don't think you addressed my point sorry.
Come election season how do they suddenly know when before that they didn't know/care.
Where/what mechanism does the knowledge come from?