No apology for calling group ‘absolute roasters’

Councillor refuses to say sorry for Twitter comments

Dundee’s equalities spokesperson has refused to apologise for calling members of a women’s group “absolute roasters”.

The SNP’s Gregor Murray, who represents the North East on the city council, clashed with Women’s 50:50 campaigners in a bitter Twitter row over female representation in politics.

The Dundee councillor remained defiant yesterday in the face of calls for the politician to say sorry for the remarks.

Kezia Dugdale, the leader of Scottish Labour who co-founded the campaign, said Councillor Murray’s failure to do so is an “outrage” and demanded Nicola Sturgeon take action.

Asked about making an apology, Councillor Murray told The Courier: “No. I think my comments are there for everyone to see. I think their (Women’s 50:50 campaigners’) behaviour was absolutely atrocious and if anyone should be apologising it should be them.

“I was trying to make a serious point, trying to debate it, and they just weren’t interested in it. They just kept repeating lies, they just kept slurs against me and the council, and I don’t think that’s a very mature way of debating anything.”

On whether Councillor Murray regretted calling campaigners “absolute roasters”, the Nationalist said: “I think I was wrong to use that word.

“I think I was absolutely wound up by the aggressive nature of these Twitter trolls, who were not using their real name and trying to wind me up.

“I’m not going to apologise for having an opinion, that’s what I’m here for.

“We need to look at why we have so few trans people in politics, but the fact is we can’t have a debate about it because these people just shut down the debate every time and that is not acceptable.”

The online row related to Councillor Murray supporting a refusal for the council to formally back the Women’s 50:50 campaign, which seeks proportional representation for females in parliament.

The councillor became embroiled in a spat with Talat Yaqoob, a founder of the campaign, before others entered the fray.

Councillor Murray said: “Oh look, the absolute roasters at the Women 50:50 campaign smearing us, again. Refusing to debate, spreading lies – how not to win ppl over!”

The representative, who identifies himself as non-binary, said: “If you have a quota just for women then that means you can have non-binary person wanting to stand and they just get lumped in with the men or are told they are not allowed to stand because they already have a quota of other people. I think that’s moving us backwards rather than forwards.”

Ms Dugdale said: “The original comments are offensive enough – but to double down on them and refuse to apologise is an outrage. The fact that the SNP believes this individual is a suitable spokesperson on equality is even worse.

“If Nicola Sturgeon is serious about delivering gender equality she would take disciplinary action against this blatant sexism.”

The SNP did not comment on whether any disciplinary action would be taken.

A party spokeswoman said: “These views expressed do not represent those of the SNP – a party that stands up for gender equality at every turn – working for an end to austerity, for equal pay, more and better jobs and to end the barriers that still block the aspirations of too many women in Scotland and across the UK.

She added: “Many SNP MSPs – both men and women – have shown their support for the Women 50:50 campaign and our First Minister Nicola Sturgeon leads by example with her support for gender equality.”