Rowling and Ewing: Loud, proud, and missing the point
Today there are two tales of self-importance. JK Rowling, who came to fame and fortune as the author of derivative children's fiction, Billy Bunter on broomsticks, has in recent years set herself up as the arbiter of feminism, devoting herself to an all-consuming social media attack on trans people, cis gender women she suspects of being trans, and any woman who dares to espouse a form of feminism which is trans-inclusive. Thus it was that Rowling took to social media to attack The National as being "anti-woman".
This newspaper is one of the very few publications which covers both sides in the heated and polarised debate about the trans issue, it has a female editor, a female assistant editor, has more female than male reporters, and has gender balance amongst its columnists and regular contributors. On International Women's Day last year, the entirety of The National, from the front page to the sports section, was written and produced by women.
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No newspaper in Scotland comes close to The National in terms of female representation and in the breadth and depth of coverage of women's and LGBT issues. But because that means that The National gives space to opinions on the contentious trans issue which are at variance with those of JK Rowling, that makes The National "anti-woman" in her eyes. Trans exclusive feminists like Rowling lob accusations of misogyny about like the Israeli Government weaponizes accusations of antisemitism – as a tool to bully and silence those who dare to disagree with them. However, empirical evidence strongly suggests that they represent only a minority of women, and an even smaller minority of lesbians.
(Image: LESLEY MARTIN)Despite her apparent belief to the contrary, JK Rowling does not get to be the sole judge of what constitutes valid feminism. There are very many women whose feminism has no problem with trans people. Indeed, most surveys find that a majority of lesbians, particularly younger lesbians, believe in a trans inclusive form of feminism and have no problem with admitting trans people into women's spaces.
LGBT young people's charity Just Like Us commissioned a poll of 3,695 adults aged 18 to 25. The research found that young lesbians are the demographic most likely to agree that they are supportive or very supportive of trans people, rising to over 90% of respondents. These results were confirmed by a YouGov survey which found that cisgender lesbians and bisexual women in particular are likely to have positive feelings towards trans people, at 84%, including 66-68% who say they are 'very positive' towards trans people. YouGov says this finding mirrors national polling which shows that women are generally more likely to hold pro-trans views than men.
But I suppose that JK Rowling would dismiss these lesbian feminists as being "anti-woman" too. We are now at the point in this so-called debate where anyone who doesn't express overt hostility to trans people is dismissed as a woman hating misogynist.
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Even Rowling's former friend and ally Stephen Fry has now spoken out against her, saying that she has become 'radicalised' and calling her views on trans people 'cruel' and 'mocking'. Rowling's gloating and knife twisting cigar selfie, published on social media when the UK Supreme Court ruled in favour of For Women Scotland, was a tipping point for many. Fry said he used to enjoy Rowling's company and admired her wit, but now feels her behaviour is no longer something he can excuse or overlook. He said: "She says things that are inflammatory, contemptuous, and mocking. It's a terribly distressing time for trans people, and her words only make it worse."
Fergus Ewing stands as an independent
Meanwhile, the intensely self-important right wing MSP Fergus Ewing has announced that he intends to stand as an independent in next year's Holyrood election. Ewing is one of those mediocre politicians who is permanently angry that the rest of the world does not accept his own estimation of his brilliance.
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Ewing owes his position to his family name and connections. Were it not for his belief in Scottish independence, he'd be perfectly happy in the Conservative party. His reactionary and right-wing views are deeply at variance with the mainstream SNP. Ewing has spoken out in favour of fracking. In 2015 the south Scotland SNP MSP, Joan McAlpine, complained to then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about Ewing's support for plans by the Duke of Buccleuch to mine coalbed methane at Canonbie in Dumfries and Galloway.
(Image: PA)In 2018 he also tried to block Scottish Government moves to ban the pesticide Acetamiprid, which was categorised as a "Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP)" by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 2015. The chemical is highly toxic to birds and earthworms and moderately toxic to most aquatic organisms with a high potential for bioaccumulation. It has been blamed for killing bees and butterflies. It is widely used by the forestry industry and in attempting to block moves to ban it, Ewing was again demonstrating that he puts the commercial interests of businesses ahead of all other considerations.
Ewing has served as an SNP MSP for the Inverness and Nairn constituency since 1999 and is seeking re-election for the seventh time. This time, he runs as an independent after he became estranged from the SNP when he refused to accept the very mild slap on the wrist punishment of suspension from the SNP group in Holyrood for a week, which he received for the political cardinal sin of voting against now-former Green minister Lorna Slater in a no-confidence motion in 2023.
All that Ewing is likely to achieve is to split the pro-independence vote in the constituency and allow an anti-independence candidate to take the seat. But Fergus will always have his self-righteousness to comfort him. In an interview with the BBC today, Ewing said that politicians should start acting like grownups. Quite, Fergus. How about you going first?
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