SNP trans war reignited by MP on Twitter
The SNP’S ongoing civil war over trans rights has been reignited after an MP retweeted calls for Joanna Cherry to be expelled from the party
Kirsty Blackman, the SNP MP for Aberdeen North, retweeted apostcallingfortheedinburgh South West MP to be expelled from the party to allow the SNP to live up to its “zero tolerance” stance on trans rights.
Ms Cherry and Ms Blackman havebeenlong-termopponents on the issue of self-identification for transgender individualsandhavebeenattheheartof divisions within the party over the issue.
Asked about the row on BBC’S Goodmorningscotlandyesterday, deputy first minister John Swinney called for “considered and respectful debate”.
Italsocomesmonthsafterms Cherry accused Ms Blackman of “lies and smears”.
The row erupted after Ms
Blackman retweeted a post, which stated: “If my party truly stands for trans rights and equality, if our stance is truly 'zero tolerance', then it has to start from within. Joanna C must be expelled from the SNP. Show the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK that 'zero tolerance' means exactly that."
Thetweetwasinresponsetoa post from Ms Cherry, who had responded to another Twitter user who had claimed Nicola Sturgeon wants to “let lads into women’s spaces” in a post directed to SNP MSP Neil Gray.
Responding, Ms Cherry posted:“thankyou@ellegla.misogyny and abuse of women is neverokevenwhentheyhavebeen impertinent enough to disagree with the new orthodoxy of queer theory and stick up for their rights. Tackling this problem should start at home."
The high-profile MP was sacked from the SNP’S frontbench in February as the Alex Salmondaffairdividedloyalties among members. These divisions
within the SNP partially led to the creation of the new pro-independence party, Alba, led by former first minister, Mr Salmond, which has a gender critical stance on trans rights.
Ms Cherry, posting yesterday
by retweeting Mr Swinney’s response to the row, reiterated her opposition to self-identification. Ms Blackman later deleted the retweet, stating: “Have deleted an earlier RT. I am
clear though, the SNP needs to do more to tackle internal transphobia, including sanctioning or expelling those in thepartywhoaretransphobic.”