Loss of Wightman ok because ‘most people have no idea who he is’
The loss of Andy Wightman over accusations of “intolerance” around the issue of transgender rights has been dismissed as irrelevant by the Scottish Greens’ co-leader because “most people have no idea who he is”.
In an exclusive interview, Lorna Slater said the Lothian MSP’S resignation came as a “massive shock” with the reasons behind his departure “honestly a mystery”.
She said his issues may have stemmed from a “kind of male privilege” and the belief he was being silenced.
Ms Slater also claimed Mr Wightman never engaged with the women’s or LGBT groups within the Greens and that she would feel “very uncomfortable” working alongside MSPS who held different views on transgender rights.
Mr Wightman resigned as a Green MSP in December after the Greens opposed an amendment to the Forensics Medical Services Bill.
In his resignation letter, he claimed the party had become “very censorious of any deviation from an agreed line”, stating party policy had become “provocative, alienating, and confrontational for many women and men”.
The MSP is a respected figure on the issue of land reform and crowdfunded more than £170,000 from supporters for his successful defence of a defamation action in March last year.
Asked whether he would be a big loss to the Scottish Greens, Ms Slater said: “Andy leaving was a massive disappointment and to be honest a massive shock.
“Andy has very specific followers, but most people have no idea who he is. There’s a bit of a niche following there, but I don’t think it is a general issue.”
The co-leader said she “absolutely did not” recognise the accusation of intolerance in the party, adding that she did not know where that concern originated.
"He didn’t even try to talk to us, so yeah, I don’t know where that comes from. He didn’t even try to talk to us about that.
"Does it come from a kind of male privilege where anyone who thinks differently than you is somehow silencing you? I don’t know, I’m a little unclear on that myself.”
The Scottish Green politician said it was “honestly a mystery” as to why Mr Wightman resigned.