Thread by @WomenOScotland

We’ve attended multiple Scottish election hustings across the country. Most recently: Coatbridge, Motherwell, and the EIS hustings in Glasgow.

Across events, candidates were asked about sex-based rights, the Supreme Court ruling, and how this should apply in schools, workplaces and public services.

The answers were very different.

Here’s what candidates are saying about sex-based rights 👇

Some were clear - defining sex as “adult human female” and supporting single-sex spaces across education, sport and public services. They emphasised the need for legal clarity following the Supreme Court ruling.

Some candidates accepted the ruling but called for “flexibility”, “complexity”, or case-by-case approaches, with one even describing it as a “step backwards”.

This sort of in-between isn’t going to work. Men cannot be women - and when you give that inch, you are accepting this ideology which is an odd stance for people who want to lead a country.

Women and girls’ safety depends on reality. The real step backwards is women having to fight for their rights at all.

At the Glasgow EIS hustings, Ross Greer (Scottish Greens) strongly backed TIE (Time for Inclusive Education). He raised concerns about impacts on pupils and staff - including parents withdrawing children over toilet issues and wider pressures in schools.

We would argue the reality is this: Girls do not want to use gender-neutral toilets. They are entitled to privacy, dignity and safety. That is why a recent petition from a secondary school pupil has gained significant support.

This is what we found on party positions, based on all the hustings we have attended.

Scottish Conservatives – Support single-sex spaces based on biological sex and full implementation of the Supreme Court ruling.

Reform UK Scotland – Clear biological sex-based position across schools, sport, healthcare and prisons.

Scottish Labour – Accept the ruling as binding, support sex-based provision in principle, while emphasising inclusion.

Scottish Independence Party (ISP) – Supports sex-based rights and policy clarity in public services, and has done so since its inception in 2020.

Scottish Lib Dems – Accept the ruling but focus on balancing inclusion in practice.

SNP – Accept the ruling, reviewing guidance, emphasising balance and case-by-case approaches.

Scottish Greens – Emphasise gender identity-based inclusion, especially in education, and support programmes like TIE.

With just two days until the Scottish election, voters are hearing very different answers to the same questions. That matters - especially when the law is clear.

Women’s rights should not be negotiable.

Children should be able to learn safely, free from ideology.

Know who - and what - you’re voting for. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿