Calls for Maggie Chapman to resign after accusing judges of ‘bigotry, prejudice and hatred’
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Maggie Chapman
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman has received criticism and calls to resign after accusing Supreme Court justices of expressing “bigotry, prejudice and hatred” in their judgment on the definition of a woman for the purposes of the Equality Act.
Addressing people protesting the judgment in Aberdeen at the weekend, Ms Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, and deputy convener of Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, told protesters: “And we say ‘not in our name’ to the bigotry, prejudice and hatred that we see coming from the Supreme Court and from so many other institutions in our society. Not in our name, never in our name.”
Under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, MSPs must uphold the independence of the judiciary.
English barrister Akua Reindorf KC, a commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the comments were “disgraceful”.
Writing on X, Ms Reindorf posted: “As a lawyer I am deeply concerned to see an elected politician publicly undermining the separation of powers in our democracy with irresponsible and entirely false allegations of bigotry and hatred against the judiciary. Disgraceful.”
Joanna Cherry KC said Ms Chapman should resign as deputy convener of the equalities committee.
“It is wholly inappropriate for any parliamentarian to speak about the judiciary in this way & to so misrepresent their judgment,” Ms Cherry said on X. “This person is not fit to convene a parliamentary committee on equalities, human rights & justice. She should resign her position.”
Tory MSP Tess White said: “These remarks from Maggie Chapman are utterly disgraceful. It is appalling that any elected MSP would smear the UK’s highest court in this way and she should apologise urgently for her disrespectful comments.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling, which most Scots see as common sense was thoughtful and considered but the Greens are still wedded to their extremist ideology that seeks to destroy women’s rights.
“It is shocking that [First Minister] John Swinney has refused to rule out doing a deal with a party that holds such warped views. There can be no justification for this insulting speech from Maggie Chapman. She should do the right thing and resign from her position on the equalities, human rights and civil justice committee.”
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