Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Official Report 874KB pdf

Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I seek your guidance after Patrick Harvie MSP inappropriately suggested earlier today that I was dragging Scotland’s culture sector into “Tory transphobic culture wars”. His comments followed a question that I raised about Creative Scotland’s support for free speech after a member of staff attempted to stop bookshops stocking the work of gender-critical author Jenny Lindsay.

I ask, under rule 7.3.1 of the Parliament’s standing orders, whether describing gender-critical views as “transphobic” is in line with the courteous and respectful manner that is expected of members in this chamber. It was disrespectful to the women and girls watching proceedings today. Those comments were shameful.

The Deputy Presiding Officers and I will always protect members’ rights to scrutinise and debate and to challenge each other robustly. Challenges to opinions and policy positions are perfectly in order. However, we will not accept members being personally insulting or disrespectful towards one another.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Further to that point of order, I seek reassurance and clarification that challenging transphobia and transphobic views in this chamber is not regarded as a personal insult to anyone.

I have ruled on the matter already and ask members always to ensure that they treat one another with courtesy and respect in this Parliament.