Thread by @joannaccherry

My thread on the criminal threats made against me on 1st February 2021 the day I was sacked from @theSNP Westminster front bench for as yet unspecified “behaviour”.
scotsman.com/news/crime/you…

Grant Karte appeared at Edinburgh Sherriff Court this morning Friday 12 March and pled guilty to offences under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003

Some of the threats which Mr Karte made to me were of a sexual nature. A recent survey of parliamentarians showed that while politicians of both sexes receive abuse and threats, it is largely female politicians who receive threats of sexual violence.

I believe that this is a problem which requires to be acknowledged. #SexMatters

At the time of the offence Mr Karte was a member of a branch of the SNP where there have been a significant number of complaints about abuse of women by younger men.

Had these complaints of abuse, and the targeting of me and other women on social media been addressed, it is likely that this behaviour would not have escalated to the scale of threats of sexual violence.

I believe that the untrue allegations of transphobia made against me, some of which were repeated by senior politicians who ought to know better, put a target on my back.  Therefore, I hope that everyone involved learns from this episode.

Women must be allowed to discuss women’s rights, and to acknowledge that sex matters, without being labelled bigots or abused and threatened.

Sex is a biological reality which we cannot ignore and if we do ignore it, we distort reality in a way that can only make women more vulnerable.

Sentence has been deferred until 16 April. I would like to thank the police for their assistance. And to everyone who has sent me their love & support.