Fringe show goes ahead at The Stand
Joanna Cherry KC, MP appeared at The Stand on Thursday interviewed by journalist Graham Spiers, despite the show being cancelled earlier in the year amid threats from the lawyer that she would sue. In the event it was just a chat, there were apparently two protesters outside, security was pretty tight and the audience was there to listen to her speak. That is not to say it was a totally pro-SNP crowd, but the packed out audience was welcoming and gave her a standing ovation at the end of the hour.
Cherry offered a little insight into the SNP and perhaps the reported infighting, when she told Graham Speirs: “Under Stephen Flynn’s leadership at Westminster, the atmosphere has palpably changed in the group. And Stephen has been very supportive of me. He doesn’t necessarily with my views on Self Identification, but he respects that I am able to hold them.”
She explained that responsible parliamentarians should understand nuance, and have a responsibilty to engage with difficult issues and scrutinise the legislation. She said: “Sometimes we have to look at legislation and read it carefully, and make sure that there aren’t unintended consequences.
“I’m sure lots of people who’ve wanted the self ID legislation were well intentioned, but equally those of us who said “Hang on a minute, there are implications here for women’s safety, security and privacy, and implications for the rights of lesbians and gay men and bisexuals”. We also deserve to be heard, and for our concerns to be taken on board without being branded transforms and bigots.”
The Scottish Parliament passed the Gender Recognition Reform Act in December 2022, to make it a simpler process (without need for a medical opinion) to change gender. On 17 January 2023, the UK Government used Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to block the bill from receiving Royal Assent the first time section 35 has been used.
Live hearings from Judicial reviews
Upcoming hearings in the judicial review involving The Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill will be livestreamed by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).
As part of SCTS’s commitment to open justice, preliminary and substantive hearings of the case – Petition of the Scottish Ministers for Judicial Review of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Prohibition on Submission for Royal Assent) – will be available to watch live online.
The Scottish Government bill, which would make it easier for people in Scotland to change their legally recognised sex, was blocked by the UK Government using a section 35 order.
This is now being challenged by the Scottish Ministers at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
A summary of the case and the livestream details can be found on the SCTS Court of Session Live webpage.
The first hearing, a procedural hearing to ensure all parties are ready to proceed, will take place on 16 August.
The full (substantive) hearing is scheduled to begin on 19 September and has been assigned for three days.
All members of the public are welcome to view the proceedings, but should pay careful attention to the legal warning on the recording and redistribution of the footage
Charity fundraiser
Thistle Foundation held its first ever summer fair at its Centre of Wellbeing which is a purpose built building in in the heart of Craigmillar.
The fair was attended by around 300 people who enjoyed a range of fun activities including: tai chi, indoor curling, face painting and an opportunity to meet some friendly farm animals.
The day also featured fundraising activities including a raffle draw with the opportunity to win vouchers for Edinburgh Zoo to the Royal Yacht Britannia, and a bake sale catered for by the charity’s volunteers. Over the course of the day members of the local community raised over £1,100 an amazing amount which will go towards supporting the charity’s vital wellbeing work.
Gorgie City Farm
Updates on what is happening at the farm can now be found on two new social media accounts:
Facebook: Gorgie City Farm Site Project
Twitter: @GCFarmSite
The charity which was running the farm handed back the keys earlier this year and the council has responded to calls to keep it open by setting up a separate body under the supervision of EVOC. This body will find funding and ways of running the farm in a sustainable way before it opens to the public again.
Our August issue
Our August newspaper is on the streets now and we hope you like it.
Our cover story is about Rachel, with a strapline to our exclusive story about the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
And inside we have a feature from George Mair who is writing for us for the first time this month – and loads of sport from both Nigel Duncan and Bill Lothian.
If you would like to receive a copy just a wee bit ahead of everyone else then please subscribe by clicking on the image below. (And do read about Rachel and the Barbie story here)
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
