Should there be basic competence tests for those wishing to sit as MPs? I fear this question kept recurring as I watched various honourable members rise to their feet to make legally illiterate, ignorant, & plain wrong points about the Code of Practice (CoP) in response to the Ministerial statement yesterday.
(from 16:41)parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6c… First, the good. @mimsdavies was on blistering form as she slated the Government for sitting on the draft since last September, claiming they were “reluctant to face their own Back Benchers and protect vulnerable women and girls.” She also mocked “peak Lib Lib Dem-ery, with the party leader claiming to accept the Supreme Court’s judgment while opposing the guidance that flows from it.” Both these comments were to prove prescient.

West Scotland

Constituencies:
West Scotland will be one of the battlegrounds for Labour and the SNP. The other big story will be if the Conservative list vote collapses as some pundits indicate. Clydebank and Milngavie
Claire Gallagher - Scottish Common Party
Ben Langmead - Liberal Democrats
Alix Mathieson - Conservative and Unionist Party
Marie A McNair - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Callum McNally - Labour Party
Andy White - Reform UK

A surge from Reform may ensure that McNair is safe

South Scotland

Constituencies:
South Scotland contains the “blue wall” along the border, in recent years, the Conservatives have enjoyed good results here and now Reform will be hoping to make gains. South Scotland has seen a significant boundary change since 2021: East Lothian has gone and two central belt seats - East Kilbride and Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse - are in. The latter are relatively urban seats in a largely rural region and more likely to lean SNP/Lab Ayr
Siobhian Brown - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Desmond Buchanan - Liberal Democrats
Sharon Dowey - Conservative and Unionist Party
Brian McGinley - Labour Party
Andrew Fleming Russell - Reform UK
Denise Sommerville - Independent
Muhammad Tufail - Scottish Common Party

Brown had several car crash interviews over hate crime and was ill-equipped to fill the ministerial shoes of Ash Regan. She was handed the poisoned chalice brief of objecting to the unbuyable bill. Brown took Ayr with a wafer thin majority over John Scott (battling health issues) in 2021. The conservatives could retake it if Reform don’t spoil the party.

North East Scotland

Constituencies:
NE Scotland has, traditionally, been dominated by SNP and the Conservatives. In a region suffering from the decline of the oil industry, Reform are hoping to make an impact and may have a shot at a constituency seat. Aberdeen Central
Yi-Pei Chou Turvey - Liberal Democrats
Jenny Laing - Labour Party
Jack Middleton - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Stewart Whyte - Conservative and Unionist Party
James Wyllie - Reform UK

Reform may do well here, but nowhere near enough to overcome the SNP

Mid Scotland and Fife

Constituencies:
Mid Fife is a tale of two halves with a Labour / SNP split along the Fife coast and a strong Conservative presence in Perthshire. Not to forget the Lib Dem stronghold of North Fife. Cowdenbeath
David John Barratt - Scottish National Party (SNP)
James Stuart Calder - Liberal Democrats
Mark Davies - Reform UK
Laurie Moffat - Alliance to Liberate Scotland and Sovereignty
Fiona Sword - Labour Party
Darren Watt - Conservative and Unionist Party

Local councillor, Barratt is well placed to hold Annabelle Ewing’s old seat.

Highlands and Islands

Constituencies:
The headline story of H&I is a battle between the Liberal Democrats and the SNP. However, the contest in Inverness where Fergus Ewing may thwart his erstwhile party will be worth watching! Argyll and Bute
Callum George - Labour Party
Amanda Hampsey - Reform UK
Tommy Macpherson - Independent
Jenni Minto - Scottish National Party (SNP)
Alan Reid - Liberal Democrats
Mick Rice - Independent
Peter Wallace - Conservative and Unionist Party

Argyll and Bute is one of the safer SNP seats in the region. Jenni Minto should retain it.

Having looked at the manifestos, we are drilling down a bit more into the constituencies and regions. We plan to list all the candidates and puzzle out current polling.

We haven't canvased all the candidates, but thought this would be a great way for constituents - or candidates - to let our followers know where they stand. We will do a thread for each region. Please add any feed back/comments to the post relating to your constituency or region. We will share our experiences of candidates if relevant!

We have mainly drawn on the polling from YouGov and More In Common as they have looked at the constituencies. Other polls are available, so feel free to point out any data we missed!

https://x.com/ForWomenScot/status/2047661485279563972

Glasgow

Constituencies:
The 2024 general election saw Labour push back in the old Glasgow heartland, but disillusionment with UK Labour may contribute to keeping the area solidly SNP. Across the region, Reform has overtaken the Conservatives and their trajectory may result in syphoning votes from Labour rather than the SNP.

Having looked at the manifestos, we are drilling down a bit more into the constituencies and regions. We plan to list all the candidates and puzzle out current polling.

We haven't canvased all the candidates, but thought this would be a great way for constituents - or candidates - to let our followers know where they stand. We will do a thread for each region. Please add any feed back/comments to the post relating to your constituency or region. We will share our experiences of candidates if relevant!

We have mainly drawn on the polling from YouGov and More In Common as they have looked at the constituencies. Other polls are available, so feel free to point out any data we missed!

https://x.com/ForWomenScot/status/2047661485279563972

Edinburgh & Lothian East
Constituencies:
In recent times, the old Lothian region has been largely painted yellow with a splash of gold in Edinburgh West & red in Edinburgh South. This election, the polling is a bit tighter with Labour seeking to regain East Lothian, NE Edinburgh & Central Edinburgh. The Greens & LDs might also throw a curveball in a couple of seats. If you are thinking of voting tactically, there are opportunities.

Having looked at the manifestos, we are drilling down a bit more into the constituencies and regions. We plan to list all the candidates and puzzle out current polling.

We haven't canvased all the candidates, but thought this would be a great way for constituents - or candidates - to let our followers know where they stand. We will do a thread for each region. Please add any feed back/comments to the post relating to your constituency or region. We will share our experiences of candidates if relevant!

We have mainly drawn on the polling from YouGov and More In Common as they have looked at the constituencies. Other polls are available, so feel free to point out any data we missed!

https://x.com/ForWomenScot/status/2047661485279563972

Central Scotland and Lothians West

Constituencies:
Central Scotland is solidly SNP in the constituencies and something seismic would have to occur to shake that. The list will be where the main shake ups happen here.

.@campbellclaret @RoryStewartUK we did as you asked & watched you nodding like seals as McBride claimed there "was not a spate of people pretending to be trans, going into spaces & abusing anyone."

Men in women's prisons might not be pretending, but they are still dangerous.

https://twitter.com/Record_Politics/status/2047218035623137751

And no, Rory, we aren't "very angry" feminists. We are furious & revolted that you think this is about "discomfort" as your guest would have it. It's about basic safeguards. It's about ensuring that women's lives are not on the line for a twisted experiment.

Yesterday, while Marion was enjoying #Alloa26 festival, Trina & Susan were in Parliament for another #IWD2026 event.

We are grateful to @POScotParl for inviting us.

The orgs platformed indicate that we still have a way to go to ensure a diversity of women's voices are heard. The focus of the event was on youth inclusion in politics - unsurprising as the Scottish Youth Parliament & Young Women's movement made up half the panel.

However, what we really lack - and what we stand to lose this year are women with experience (incl the PO herself).

Big story on our challenge on Prisons.

Despite claiming they accept the SC ruling, @JohnSwinney & @scotgov are trying to get the court to issue a “declaration of incompatibility” stating that removing men from women's prison breaches their human rights.
thetimes.com/uk/scotland/ar… As the Times reports, "A declaration, if granted, would state that removing biologically male prisoners who say they identify as female from women’s jails would amount to an unlawful breach of their human rights and throw UK-wide equalities laws into chaos."

bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
🧵In the same week that @scotgov appeared in court to force a Judicial Review over their Prison Guidance which allows violent male criminals to be housed alongside vulnerable women in the female estate, the outcome of a Fatal Accident Inquiry was reported into the death by suicide of a trans-identified male in the Separation and Reintegration Unit (SRU) at Perth Prison. Aiden “Sarah” Riley was a deeply unwell, dangerous prisoner who had spent his entire adult life in the prison system or under supervision.

The case reveals the type of criminal transferred to the women’s estate under the SPS policy, the serious issues which are overlooked or ignored once “trans” enters the equation, and the determination of ideologically driven officers to push transfers - even when the male prisoner is also resistant.

Despite the bizarre tale which unfolds in the report, one of the judge’s recommendations is that proposed transfers of trans-identified prisoners need to be dealt with more swiftly. In light of everything we know, this is absurd and troubling. A transfer to the women's estate should have been out of the question. Women, it seems, will continue to be used as support animals for some very violent men.
scotcourts.gov.uk/media/fn2b4bn1…

We are taking @scotgov back to court.

We have been left with little choice as the Gov has refused to quash school & prison guidance. Papers have been served & the Gov has 21 days to respond.
thetimes.com/uk/scotland/ar… Trina Budge said the Scottish government had responded to the group’s legal victory with only “resistance and denial” and that two cabinet ministers the group had spoken to had refused “point blank” to withdraw unlawful documents.
thetimes.com/uk/scotland/ar…

🧵FRANKLY, yesterday’s woman, the former FM who left office in a miasma of her own (and her hubby’s) making is getting far too much attention. But there is some revisionism that is just too egregious to ignore. Especially as she has a platform denied to us. If Sturgeon really thinks Oct 22 was the point the debate became “toxic” & hope of “common ground” disappeared, we wonder if she was drunk or in a coma for half a decade? Otherwise how to account for such wilful blindness?
thetimes.com/article/291601…

The most concerning thing about the nonsense spouted about bone marrow transplants & chromosomal conditions yesterday was wondering how this would land with the panel.

Rare conditions are, sadly, too often weaponised (I fear "our" side is also guilty), so a 🧵 First of all, fun fact! Male DNA may be observable in women who have borne male children. This may persist for decades.

It only exists in some cells and does not change the woman's sex.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC40…

Absolutely extraordinary scenes today in @ScotParl in which it emerged that MSPs and staff are confused about how to use the lavatory - something many nursery children manage without such tortuous introspection.

Let's dive in! 🧵 There are many issues which may be considered "urgent" in Scotland today, but Patrick Harvie wanted a debate on toilets & the bonkers "open letter" from the fox-batterer and confused chums.
Remember, #HarvieHatesWomen.

So, what to say about the inane interview from Sacha Deshmukh of @AmnestyUK on @BBCWomansHour?

Firstly, of course, this was an embarrassment for the @bbc, for @itsanitarani, and for the "human rights" charity none of whom, seemingly, were on top of basic facts. Sacha confidently asserted that everyone else was reading the judgment - ALL 30 PAGES - wrong. He seemed mighty pleased that it was 30 pages (he mentioned it 3 times).

The problem? It is 88 pages, suggesting Sacha either read 1/3 of it or was misdirected by a minion.

The man in the black top beside Swinney is Amber Roberts, an SNP activist who once took a place on an all-woman shortlist for the NEC claiming it was "as clear as day" that he was female.

He has been refused a GRC 3 times. We wrote to the SNP at the time. Pink News later denounced us for "publicly misgendering"

forwomen.scot/15/09/2023/mal…

🧵Statement: We cannot see why the Supreme Court ruling should have made any difference to the introduction of the long delayed Misogyny Bill, unless, of course, the Bill also sought to redefine women and to include trans identified men (already protected under HCA). We are pleased @scotgov has finally decided to protect women & girls under hate crime legislation as Lord Bracadale originally suggested back in 2018. A proposal which we and @mbmpolicy backed in our submissions to the committee.
forwomen.scot/wp-content/upl…

“I don’t think we will be seeing hide nor hair of it again,” one nationalist backbencher said. “How can we legislate to criminalise misogyny when we can’t even agree what a woman is?"
thetimes.com/uk/scotland/ar… For Women Scotland, which brought the Supreme Court case cited by the government as the reason for the delay, claimed the SNP was making “dishonest and offensive” excuses not to act.