Scottish Parliament votes to accept Cass Report - Forbes made Deputy First Minister

[fromorbit]

The amended motion that passed was as follows

That the Parliament welcomes the report submitted by Dr Hilary Cass on gender identity services for children and young people; recognises the report as a valid scientific document, and calls on the Scottish Government to thoroughly examine the recommendations of the NHS England commissioned report, and its applicability to NHS Scotland services, and to update the Parliament on the outcome before the summer recess and further calls on the Scottish Government to publish all papers relating to the multi-disciplinary clinical team work in assessing Dr Cass’s recommendations, and to urgently prepare a progress report on the existing strategy for reducing long waits for children and young people to access specialist gender services.

It passed 113 to 7 [presumably the Greens voted against.] It was amended to give the Government a longer period to formulate a response. Note the insane Green motion undermining the report was not even tabled.

Turns out the difficult women were right ALL along. Take a bow ladies.

Check out the full debate with the rabid contribution from Harvey and good ones from most other parties starts 15:15. Lots of Ferrets to be seen.

https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-may-8-2024

Meanwhile in not unconnected news Kate Forbes became Deputy First Minister with various other important roles too. This makes Forbes more or less certain to be the next SNP leader one suspects.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-68976320

She couldn't have done it without the Greens getting rid of Humza and then voting to keep the SNP in power. Which I am sure they are totally fine with :) Once again the Greens lack of competence comes to bite them. It could be that the SNP is starting to grasp reality we shall see.

Kate wore a green dress to the Bute House Meeting?

Trolling by wardrobe?

Top trolling. The Greens have not had a good day. Wheels have come off their kiddie waggon. Adults back in charge.

https://twitter.com/gracebrod1e/status/1788253464234971301

Stirring speech from Murdo Fraser.

Go Katie go!

I'm almost about ready to start to think about exhaling. This has been a long time coming, and I'm not convinced that it will all fall into place easily (court cases and judicial reviews and public enquiries to come) but, it feels less DESPERATE.

All we need now is for the fucking loons in our Senedd to face reality.

Given that they:ve just voted for a batshit new voting system for an enlarged body (details from the BBC below) I will not be holding my breath.

"The current combination of 40 local and 20 regional MSs would be replaced by 16 larger constituencies, each represented by six members.

Parties would put forward lists of ranked candidates for every seat, under what is known as a closed list system, preventing voters from backing individual candidates."

Fantastic news. Balance and order is being restored especially with Kate Forbes becoming duputy first minister.
I think this might be a crossing of the golden bridge by the remaining SNP, but I think they are already fatally wounded as a political party.

I’d love to hear the argument for how this is democratic (at least in the sense of ensuring accountability to voters).

The present system in Scotland is bad enough, but this takes the biscuit.

Repeal the hate speech blasphemy laws now please!

It passed 113 to 7 [presumably the Greens voted against]

Wow. Yes, presumably the Greens' 7 members were whipped to vote against this in line with their ridiculous alternative amendment.

https://twitter.com/rogdmum/status/1787916077541765158?t=TY85jAQcBj2l5JInVNoltQ&s=19

Wonder no more.... 👏👏👏 Even the MSPs have noticed. Hopefully Westminster is watching with interest.

Oh god I can only hope this is the start of the adults coming back into the room up here in Scotland. Dr Cass's video session was a real turning point, she was so diligent and professional that I had goosebumps watching her. I want to thank @ArabellaScott again for transcribing it all on another thread.

Despite the stupid questions, Dr Cass held her nerve and just calmly stated the scientific facts. Dr Cass; you deserve all of the honours going. You've saved another generation of children and young people. You've done it in a way where it cannot be denied. The politicians have been defeated, they have to stop pandering to the ideologues and the fanatical activists. No more. You're like HODOR in Game of Thrones holding the door, Aragorn at the end of Lord of the Rings running first towards the orc army, Eowyn standing her ground against the witch king, Dumbledore sacrificing himself to save Harry, you are all of the heroes and heroines in fiction that we love because they are a reflection of what is truly good in this world and it inspires us in real life. You are them but you are better than them, purer because you are doing this for humanity without airs and graces and you are doing it humbly and scientifically and properly. And because ultimately, it's the right thing to do.

I've just poured myself a drink! I'm sorry I've rambled. I'm just in shock, I'm teetering on the edge here! Is hope returning? Is sanity returning? For my children? For all of our children?

I've been spiralling about this for a year now!😅

Hey, I paraphrased, I didn't transcribe!

The proper record/transcript should be published on the 10th.

Yes this is a welcome tentative shift back towards reason. With the exception of the notable fucking rocket-politicking from the Greens, of course.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

It is looking way better. No debate has collapsed.

Lots more to do, but a lot of kids are safer now.

I love this 'ramble'!😍

I've been SO scared. My Dd is ASD, gay, selectively mute. Badky looking to 'fit in'. Exactly the sort of vulnerable YP who will become captured by Ideology. Coming home with Trans badges on from teacher-led School Trans club.
I feel she might be a bit safer today.

Apologies @ArabellaScott I got caught up in the moment! 😅 Yes, thank you for summarising and noting down the key points. Will be good to see the official transcript too once it's published. I didn't take everything in when I watched it earlier.

💐My DS is the same; has learning issues, suspected ASN (still awaiting confirmation), he was very prematurely born too. He's too young for us to be able to tell about his sexuality. He's very sensitive and gentle and naïve and also non verbal, not mute as he screeches and makes sounds, but no words. I've been very scared too. I let it all out in my ramble above! I've felt like I've been in a torture vice for over a year worrying about all this. The passing of the hate crime act was a real low, I was so scared.

Sending you hugs and let's hope things are going to get better from now on. Next step is to get rid of this hate crime act. And the upcoming conversion bill. Or at least amend it to make it sensible, if it can't be stopped.

@INeedAPensieve - like others I loved your 'ramble' above. Yes, the Hate Crime bill is a howling mess, legally, administratively & morally: it needs to go, or be amended beyond all recognition. ALL children deserve time, space & peace to grow into their emotions & bodies & discover sexuality slowly, naturally & safely. The main focus should be on consent & safety. Its a long (sometimes bumpy) process which needs kind responsible adults to support them, not speed it up & funnel it down various ideological 'avenues'.
And women & children should not see any erosion of their safe spaces either.
Here's hoping the Cass Report is treated with proper respect in Scotland.

Regardless of the trans element, Kate Forbes is bad bad bad news for all women. Anti-abortionists are delighted she’s got in.

Great stuff! Oh to hear that kind of straight talking in Westminster.

Wow that was amazing excoriating speech from Murdo Fraser. Saying it how it is. I was also pleasantly surprised at the applause he got.

Forbes on abortion:

'In an interview with ITV, Forbes was asked if she supported the right to have an abortion under current laws.

She said: “I couldn’t conceive of having an abortion myself. I’ve seen my baby at 12 weeks and 20 weeks but yes, I defend the right of women to make use of that legal provision to access abortion.”

She was further asked if this meant she would defend the current law which allows women to have an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.

“My position is that I wouldn’t change the law as it stands.”

Asked about legislation put forward by Green MSP Gillian Mackay (below) aiming to stop anti-abortion protesters from gathering outside clinics, Forbes commented: “I think with the bill the basis of my position is that nobody seeks a termination lightly.

“There are emotionally vulnerable women seeking these terminations and they should do so free of fear and harassment.

“In that sense, the purpose of the bill makes sense. Any bill that is good law needs to make sure its targeted and that’s where I’ve said I’m happy to work with [Mackay].”

The buffer zone legislation recently passed Stage 1 and Forbes voted in favour of the legislation.'

Excerpts from a National article I can't c&p URL and text but easily googleable.

Diversity of thought and opinion is a good thing. Pro choice views should be heard in reproductive rights debates. I’m glad they don’t win, but I can’t criticise what Forbes has actually said about the buffer zones.

it’s interesting that she gets criticised for her faith - Humza’s faith is much harder on LGB+ rights, but no one ever said “oh, we’ll be throwing gays off the roof of Bute House, will we?”

I wonder why Humza got a free pass?