Joanna Cherry
Joanna Cherry | |
---|---|
SNP Spokesperson for Home Affairs | |
In office 20 May 2015 – 1 February 2021 | |
Leader | Angus Robertson Ian Blackford |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Stuart McDonald |
SNP Spokesperson for Justice | |
In office 20 May 2015 – 1 February 2021 | |
Leader | Angus Robertson Ian Blackford |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Anne McLaughlin |
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West | |
Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
Preceded by | Alistair Darling |
Majority | 11,982 (23.0%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Joanna Catherine Cherry 18 March 1966 Edinburgh, Scotland |
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Joanna Catherine Cherry QC (born 18 March 1966) is a Scottish politician and lawyer serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh South West since 2015. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she was the party's Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice in the House of Commons from 2015 to 2021.
Education and early career[]
Cherry was born on 18 March 1966 to Mary Margaret (née Haslette) and Thomas Alastair Cherry.[1] She was educated at Holy Cross primary school, then at St Margaret's Convent School in Edinburgh[2] and the University of Edinburgh.[3]
Following her graduation, Cherry worked as a research assistant with the Scottish Law Commission (1990) before practising as a solicitor with the Edinburgh legal firm Brodies WS until 1995. She also worked as a part-time tutor in constitutional law, family law and civil court practice at the University of Edinburgh from 1990 to 1996.[4]
Cherry was admitted as an advocate in 1995, with a particular interest in employment and industrial relations, health and safety, mental health, personal injury and professional negligence.[1][4]
She served as a Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government from 2003 to 2008, and as an Advocate Depute and Senior Advocate Depute from 2008 until 2011. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2009[5] and was an advocate with the Arnot Manderson stable within the Faculty of Advocates[6] until her election to parliament.[7]
Political career[]
2014 independence referendum[]
Cherry set up the "Lawyers for Yes" group, which campaigned for a "Yes" (pro-independence) vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[8]
2015 election to Westminster[]
In February 2015, she was adopted as the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate for Edinburgh South West in the May 2015 United Kingdom general election.[9] She won the seat,[10] which she then held in the subsequent June 2017 general election[11][12] although with a reduced majority of just over 1,000 votes, making her seat the most marginal in Edinburgh at the time.[13] Following her election, Cherry was appointed as the SNP spokesperson for Justice and Home Affairs at Westminster.[14]
In September 2016, she issued an apology after defending a comedy rap group Witsherface performance at an pro-independence event that had been criticised as homophobic.[15] The performance had called Conservative leader Ruth Davidson "Dykey' D" and had portrayed her making her inappropriate comments towards SNP MP Mhairi Black.[16]
In May 2017, Cherry apologised for telling journalists that a nurse, who had told a TV debate audience she had been unable to survive on her salary and had to use food banks, was suspected to be the wife of a Conservative councillor. False claims about Claire Austin were retweeted by other SNP politicians and the nurse experienced online and offline harassment.[17]
In October 2017, she was an observer at the 2017 Catalan independence referendum.[18]
In May 2019, executives from Facebook and Twitter appeared before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, of which Cherry was a member,[19] and faced accusations over the way they handled abuse and harassment of parliamentarians on social media. Cherry cited several abusive tweets, that were not removed swiftly by Twitter, something the company's head of UK government, public policy and philanthropy, Katy Minshall, described as "absolutely an undesirable situation".[20] Following the meeting, Cherry received police protection whilst attending her constituency surgery, having received a death threat sent via social media.[21]
Following a High Court ruling in May 2019, in favour of The Daily Telegraph, The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority released figures confirming that 377 MPs had had their parliamentary credit cards suspended for "late, incomplete or incorrect expenses claims since 2015".[22] Cherry was included on that list, with the paper reporting that she had had her official credit card repeatedly suspended for failing to repay money on time.[23]
On 11 May 2019 The Times reported that Cherry was being investigated by the House of Commons over bullying complaints from four former employees.[24] Cherry rejected the allegations, and alleged that they were part of a politically motivated 'smear' campaign, from those within the SNP ranks who opposed her and her views.[25][26] One former staff member took the complaint forward, alleging that Cherry both condoned bullying by her office manager and partook in bullying behaviour herself. Cherry was exonerated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and given leave to issue a statement to that effect – "I'm pleased to be able to advise that I have been exonerated after an independent investigation into complaints that I had either condoned or been engaged in bullying within my constituency office. As I predicted, the allegations have not been upheld."[27]
In June 2019, Cherry took legal action against LGBT website PinkNews after it published a story that falsely claimed she was being investigated for homophobia. To settle the case, PinkNews issued an apology, paid her legal costs, and, in lieu of paying damages to Cherry, made a donation to the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group.[28][29]
Cherry was the leading litigant in the Scottish court case challenging the five-week prorogation of Parliament by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Her case Cherry v Advocate General for Scotland, together with a case brought in England and Wales by Gina Miller, was ultimately successful in the Supreme Court, resulting in the quashing of the prorogation on 24 September 2019.[30]
2019 election-onwards[]
Cherry was re-elected as MP for Edinburgh South West in the 2019 general election, with an increased majority of nearly 12,000.[31]
In February 2020, Cherry announced that she was seeking nomination from the SNP Edinburgh Central constituency branch to run as the candidate for Edinburgh Central in the Scottish Parliament and would stand down as an MP in the House of Commons if elected.[32] Angus Robertson also announced his intention to seek nomination for the Edinburgh Central constituency. In July 2020, Cherry announced she was ruling out a bid for Holyrood, stating that the conditions for standing as an MSP were unreasonable and made a fair contest impossible.[33]
Cherry was sacked from the SNP's front bench on 1 February 2021 by the party leadership. Cherry tweeted: "Despite hard work, results and a strong reputation I've been sacked today from the SNP front bench."[34] The party's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: "Team working and cooperation are key to ensure results and this reshuffle will give us a strong team to take us forward."[35] An SNP spokesman said in a statement: "Joanna Cherry was removed from the front bench because of unacceptable behaviour, which did not meet the standards expected of a front bench spokesperson – not because of the views she holds."[36] A Savanta ComRes poll released on 11 February 2021 found that while 57% of SNP members had no opinion on her sacking, 31% supported it and 13% opposed it.[37]
On 21 February 2021, Cherry was criticised by the Scottish branch of PEN International for her attempts to silence critics who questioned her by threatening defamation action.[38] After Cherry disputed she had taken legal action, letters from her solicitors on her behalf were published. Jo Maugham, with whom she had worked on the legal challenge over Boris Johnson's prorogation of Parliament, said "Because defending defamation proceedings is so expensive, a well-funded claimant can bully critics into silence and, by marking the threats 'confidential', suppress transparency over the fact they are doing so. This feels profoundly wrong to me."[39]
On 26 March 2021, Cherry announced that she would step back from her public duties for health reasons.[40] On 10 May 2021, following the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, she began a gradual return to her public activities.[41]
On 31 May 2021, she resigned from the SNP national executive committee.[42]
Electoral history[]
Election | Votes | % Vote | Elected candidate | % Majority | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 general election | Edinburgh South West | 22,168 | 43.0 | Joanna Cherry (SNP) | 15.8 |
2017 general election | Edinburgh South West | 17,575 | 35.6 | Joanna Cherry (SNP) | 2.2 |
2019 general election | Edinburgh South West | 24,830 | 47.6 | Joanna Cherry (SNP) | 23 |
Political positions[]
Scottish independence[]
Cherry supports both Scottish independence and a proposed second Scottish independence referendum.[43][44] She has been described as a more hardline supporter of independence, advocating a less cautious approach towards holding a second referendum than Nicola Sturgeon, including the holding a referendum even if the Scottish government could not come to an agreement with the British government over such a referendum.[45][46][47][48] She has stated that she believes emulating the Irish First Dáil could be an path forward for the Scottish independence movement, stating that "One hundred years ago, Irish independence came about not as a result of a referendum but as a result of a treaty negotiated between Irish parliamentarians and the British Government after nationalist MPs had won the majority of Irish seats in the 1918 general election and withdrawn to form a provisional government in Dublin."[49] She has additionally denied that she advocates for illegally holding a referendum.[50]
Alex Salmond[]
During the Alex Salmond scandal concerning accusations of sexual harassment against former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond, Cherry was described as one of his allies in the party and a critic of current SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.[51][52][53] Before the trial, Cherry told Holyrood that "Alex is my friend, and I was brought up to stand by my friends. It's the kind of family I come from. Alex is clear that he's innocent and I respect that."[54] In March 2020, after Salmond was acquitted in court, she called for a public inquiry into the SNP's handling of the accusations against him.[55] She later called for him to be reinstated to the party.[56] In February 2021, she called for the government to release documents which Salmond claimed proved that Sturgeon and her allies had conspired against him.[57]
In March 2021, when Salmond formed the Alba Party, she denied speculation that she would be defecting along with him.[58]
Foreign policy[]
In October 2021, Cherry criticised the Biden administration's actions during the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and the Fall of Kabul, and urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help the refugees fleeing the Taliban.[59]
European Union[]
Cherry supported Remain during the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and has supported an independent Scotland joining the European Union.[60][61] In March 2019, she announced she would be proposing a motion to force the government to revoke Article 50 if the UK was due to leave in a No Deal Brexit on 10 April that year.[62]
In July 2020, she called for the SNP to stop fighting against Brexit, stating that "we lost the battle and Brexit is now an irreversible reality."[63]
Position on transgender rights[]
Cherry has opposed proposed reforms of the Gender Recognition Act in Scotland which would allow transgender people to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate on the basis of a statutory declaration, replacing the current system that requires interview by a bureaucratic panel and medical reports.[64][65][66] She signed the SNP Women's Pledge, which originated amongst members of the SNP but is not affiliated with it and which opposes the reforms.[64][67]
Cherry has denied accusations of transphobia, stating that she approaches the issue "as a feminist" and that there was a "big dose of misogyny" in debates over Gender Recognition Act reform. She said that the statement "women don't have penises" is an "undeniable biological fact".[68] She has stated that she has faced abuse over her position and that sections of the SNP with opposing views have "engaged in performative histrionics redolent of the Salem witch trials".[69]
In January 2021, she supported an amendment to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 that would have exempted "criticism of matters relating to transgender identity" from violating provisions relating to protected characteristics in the bill.[70] Later that month, she was criticised by SNP colleague Kirsty Blackman, after attacking and threatening to sue the party's LGBT wing, who had been critical of her defence of Sarah Phillimore, who had been banned from Twitter for allegedly making transphobic and antisemitic statements.[71][72] In June, she signalled her support for For Women Scotland campaigner Marion Millar, who was charged under the Malicious Communications Act, with a hate-crime aggravator, for allegedly transphobic and homophobic social media posts.[73] Later that month, Cherry announced that she was returning to the bar to defend Millar in court.[74] The case was subsequently dropped by prosecutors.[75]
Writing in The National in June 2021, Cherry stated that some veteran members of the LGBT+ community no longer felt welcome at Pride events due to their views on transgender rights, claimed that LGBT+ rights charity Stonewall's workplace inclusion schemes misrepresent the law, and stated her belief that "many same-sex attracted women and those who hold gender-critical beliefs have found themselves in a relationship of coercive control with employers, service providers and membership organisations".[76] In response a letter to the editor was published in the National, from the Director of LGBT charity Equality Network, Tim Hopkins, disputing Cherry's position.[77]
In November 2021, Cherry was accused of "justifying conversion therapy" for transgender people after she tweeted that a ban on conversion therapy "must not make it a criminal offence for therapists to try to help patients with gender dysphoria to feel comfortable in their birth sex".[78][79] In the days following her comments the SNP's official LGBTQ+ wing, Out for Independence, and SNP Students both called for party leadership to remove the whip from Cherry, and for an independent investigation into transphobia in the SNP.[80] When her position was criticised by the Equality Network,[81] one of Scotland's national LGBTI charities, Cherry called for a Scottish Government investigation into the charity and for Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, to make it clear to the charity that its behaviour was inappropriate for a government-funded organisation.[82][83]
Personal life[]
Her personal interests are travel, reading and swimming[needs update].[1] Cherry is openly lesbian.[84]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Cherry, Joanna Catherine, (born 18 March 1966), QC (Scot.) 2009; MP (SNP) Edinburgh South West, since 2015 | WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO". www.ukwhoswho.com. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u250752. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Analysis: SNP bucks trend for privately educated MPs". David Leask. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry QC becomes SNP justice spokesperson". Scottish Legal News. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ a b Carr, Tim (18 May 2015). The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2015: Profiles of the New MPs and Analysis of the 2015 General Election Results. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781849549240.
- ^ "Twelve new Queen's Counsel appointed". The Journal. Law Society of Scotland. 14 September 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry QC joins AM Advocates | Arnot Manderson Advocates". amadvocates.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Election 2015: the lawyers standing for Parliament – Lawyer 2B". l2b.thelawyer.com. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ ""Lawyers for Yes" sign independence declaration". The Journal. Law Society of Scotland. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry QC chosen as SNP candidate in Edinburgh South West". Scottish Legal News. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "UK General election results 2015 [Archive]".
- ^ Tufft, Ben (8 May 2015). "Scottish MPs in Westminster: The full list of the SNP parliamentarians". The Independent. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ The Newsroom (9 June 2017). "General Election 2017: Edinburgh results in full". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "High-profile MP Joanna Cherry will defend Edinburgh's most marginal seat [Archive]". Scotsman.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry QC becomes SNP justice spokesperson". Scottish Legal News. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Row over Ruth Davidson comedy rap song slur". BBC News. 19 September 2016.
- ^ "SNP MP 'regrets' offence caused by homophobic slur at independence event".
- ^ "Election 2017: Apology for TV debate food bank nurse". BBC News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry: '˜Palpable sense of fear' on Barcelona streets".
- ^ "Joint Committee on Human Rights membership at the end of Parliament 2017–19". UK Parliament. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Facebook and Twitter grilled over abuse faced by MPs". BBC News. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Ward, Sarah (6 May 2019). "SNP MP Joanna Cherry given police protection after online 'death threat'". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Gourtsoyannis, Paris (8 May 2019). "David Mundell among 377 MPs to have expenses credit cards blocked". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Simon (8 May 2019). "Four Scottish MPs repeatedly have official credit cards suspended for failing to pay back money". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ "SNP MP Joanna Cherry investigated after staff bullying complaints". The Times. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ "SNP MP Joanna Cherry says 'bully' claims may be part of smearing by her own party". The Scotsman. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ Sim, Phillip (16 May 2019). "Are Joanna Cherry's claims of SNP 'infighting' true?". BBC News. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Hannan, Martin (29 June 2019). "SNP MP Joanna Cherry cleared of former staffer's bullying claim". The National. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Correction". PinkNews. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ Hannan, Martin (5 July 2019). "Joanna Cherry calls for GRA 'respect' after false Pink News claim". The National. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Supreme Court: Suspending Parliament was unlawful, judges rule". BBC News. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Swanson, Ian (13 December 2019). "SNP's Joanna Cherry wins big majority in Edinburgh South West". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry will leave MP role if she wins Ruth Davidson's seat". BBC. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ "SNP's Joanna Cherry rules out Holyrood bid after rule change". BBC. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "MP Joanna Cherry dropped in SNP frontbench reshuffle". BBC News. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ Learmouth, Andrew (1 February 2021). "SNP sack Joanna Cherry from Westminster frontbench team". The National. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ O'Tooole, Emer (4 February 2021). "Jacob Rees-Mogg praises Joanna Cherry's 'courage' after being sacked from front bench". The National. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry: Majority of SNP members agree with MP's sacking". 11 February 2021.
- ^ "MP Cherry's £2500 defamation claim 'could have chilling effect' on holding power to account". Sunday Herald. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "David Paisley publishes letter sent by Joanna Cherry's lawyers". Sunday Herald. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry 'taking time out' for health reasons". BBC News. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ Joanna Cherry [@joannaccherry] (10 May 2021). "I'm continuing a phased return to work this week after a period of ill health & looking forward to recommencing some public duties. A big thank you to my fantastic staff & to everyone who has supported me & sent good wishes" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry resigns from SNP ruling body". BBC News. 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry: The two things we must do to on the route to independence".
- ^ "Joanna Cherry says Scottish Government must not delay in building independence case". The National.
- ^ "Alyn Smith and Joanna Cherry clash over call for Holyrood to hold indyref2". The National.
- ^ Hjul, Jenny. "Jenny Hjul: Joanna Cherry's latest IndyRef calls prove Nicola Sturgeon's days are numbered".
- ^ Johnson, Simon (26 January 2020). "Two SNP MPS heap pressure on Nicola Sturgeon to rethink opposition to 'wildcat' independence referendum". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry-backed Plan B rejected for debate at SNP conference". The National.
- ^ "First Dáil could be template for Scottish independence, says MP".
- ^ "Joanna Cherry hits back at Alyn Smith as SNP row over Plan B intensifies".
- ^ "Cherry and other Salmond supporters are waging civil war within SNP at precisely the wrong time – Laura Waddell".
- ^ "Joanna Cherry MP criticised by party members over apparent support for Salmond". 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Salmond vs Sturgeon – your complete guide to the 'whole sorry story'". Independent.co.uk. 26 March 2021.
- ^ Rhodes, Mandy (15 October 2019). "With a cherry on top: Exclusive interview with Joanna Cherry". Holyrood. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Alex Salmond case stokes tensions for Scotland's nationalists". Politico. 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry: Alex Salmond's place in SNP should be reinstated & 'not guilty' verdict respected". The Herald.
- ^ Nutt, Kathleen (26 February 2021). "Joanna Cherry demands Alex Salmond 'conspiracy' evidence release". The National.
- ^ O'Toole, Emer (26 March 2021). "Joanna Cherry confirms she will not be joining Alex Salmond's Alba Party". The National.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry: What the UK should do to help people from and in Afghanistan". The National. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry: 'Now we must make sure Boris Johnson's Brexit plans fail'". The Scotsman.
- ^ "Protesters call for Scotland to remain in the EU". BBC News. 21 September 2019.
- ^ "MP Joanna Cherry hopeful of 'revoke Article 50' motion support". BBC News. 31 March 2019.
- ^ Marlborough, Conor (30 July 2020). "Scottish Independence: Joanna Cherry MP tells SNP to abandon fighting Brexit". Edinburgh News.
- ^ a b Rodger, Hannah (10 November 2019). "SNP Women's Pledge 'disingenuous'". The Herald. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Brooks, Libby (14 October 2019). "Several women 'close to quitting SNP over gender recognition plans'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Horne, Marc (6 December 2019). "SNP members 'victims of LGBT campaign'". The Times. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ Davidson, Gina (13 October 2019). "SNP group formed to uphold rights of women amid transgender row". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ McLaughlin, Marc (23 November 2019). "I will not suppress my views on gender, says Joanna Cherry, SNP hopeful". The Times. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ "MP Joanna Cherry describes 'campaign of abuse' over views". BBC News. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Scottish government wants to exempt 'criticism of transgender identity' from proposed hate crime law". 27 January 2021.
- ^ "Joanna Cherry 'blocks' SNP colleague Kirsty Blackman on Twitter amid LGBT row".
- ^ Ross, Jamie (8 February 2021). "Transphobia is Wrecking Scotland's Golden Opportunity for Independence". The Daily Beast.
- ^ Gordon, Tom (4 June 2021). "SNP MP Joanna Cherry lends support to feminist Marion Millar after 'hate crime' charge". The Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Summan, Kapil (24 June 2021). "Exclusive: Joanna Cherry QC to defend Marion Millar in limited return to the bar". Scottish Legal News]. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ Brooks, Libby (28 October 2021). "Scottish prosecutors drop transphobia case against Marion Millar 28 October 2021". Guardian. Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ Cherry, Joanna (4 June 2021). "Joanna Cherry: We must work to ensure equalities policies conform to the law". The National. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ Hopkins, Tim (7 June 2021). "Can Joanna Cherry please spell out her objection to Stonewall's advice?". The National. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Hutcheon, Paul (16 November 2021). "SNP MP Joanna Cherry blasted over 'conversion therapy' comments". Daily Record. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Wakefield, Lily (15 November 2021). "SNP MP Joanna Cherry suggests trans conversion therapy should be legal". PinkNews. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Matchett, Conor. "SNP's LGBT and student wings call for leadership to remove whip from Joanna Cherry". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Matchett, Conor. "Joanna Cherry comments on conversion therapy 'deeply concerning' and seek to 'undermine' calls for ban". The Scotsman. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Joanna Cherry [@joannaccherry] (19 November 2021). "Earlier this week @LGBTIScotland grossly misrepresented my views on Conversion Therapy. I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice asking for an investigation into this inappropriate behaviour by a Government funded organisation.=" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 November 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Ministers urged to probe LGBTI charity in row over 'online hostility' against gay MP". Holyrood Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Andrew Reynolds (13 May 2015). "The UK broke its own record for LGBT representation last week". New Statesman. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
External links[]
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- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
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