MUMSTRUCK
Female SNP MSP hopeful shocked after party member asks who would look after her kids if she won election
A WOULD-BE SNP MSP has told how a sexist party member quizzed her about who would look after her children if she was elected.
Julie McKenzie, who aims to become her party’s candidate for Argyll and Bute, asked in return if the individual had ever posed the same question to a male candidate. Dozens of selection contests will determine who stands for the SNP across the country at the Holyrood election.
Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell won Argyll and Bute in 2016 with a majority of 5978 but is to retire next year.
Five women – McKenzie, Sarah Fanet, Jenni Minto, Breege Smy th and Rhiannon Spear – are in the running to stand.
McKenzie, councillor for the Oban North and Lorn ward, last night tweeted about contact she’d had with a member: “Question received from an Argyll and Bute SNP member today.
“Julie I think you would be a great MSP, however I have to ask, if you get elected who will look after your kids?”
S he added: “My response… Thank you for your email. However I have to ask, have you ever asked a male political candidate that question?!”
Colleagues and political opponents backed McKenzie’s reply.
SNP MP Alison Thewliss responded: “I got that in 2015 – I gave the same response.”
Scottish Government Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey wrote: “A question I’d bet is never asked of a father.”
Fiona Robertson, the SNP’s equalities convener, tweeted: “You don’t ever ask men who’ll take care of their kids when they’re elected.
“People don’t make this decision lightly. You can expect that a parent has had these discussions.”
Alison E vis on, a Labour councillor in Aberdeenshire, wrote: “Not on. In any political party.
“Not on in other work contexts for that matter.”