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The National
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
JK Rowling called The National 'anti-woman' – here's my response
She made this claim because we ran an article, and have run many articles previously, describing groups like Sex Matters as "anti-trans". I would like to take the opportunity to defend this newspaper against Rowling's frankly ridiculous description, and explain why "anti-trans" is indeed suitable language for these activists. What did JK Rowling say and what was the context? On Wednesday, our reporter Laura Pollock published a story headlined "Sex Matters considers new legal action against Scottish Government". In the social copy for the article, we stated: "An anti-trans campaign group is threatening further legal action against the Scottish Government, saying ministers are failing to implement the recent Supreme Court judgment on biological sex in equalities law." On Wednesday night, Rowling tweeted: "For Women Scotland is a feminist campaigning group. You appear to be an anti-woman newspaper." It is important to note that we weren't referring to For Women Scotland, but the group Sex Matters, which suggests Rowling didn't actually read the story before trying to smear our publication. Sex Matters and "anti-trans" First of all, let's take on the argument that describing Sex Matters as "anti-trans" is unfair, pejorative language. Rowling says it is simply a "feminist campaigning group". Is that the case? Sex Matters is an organisation which spends most of its time trying to keep trans women out of all women's spaces. Its recent campaigning includes attacking Westminster Council for displaying Pride flags during Pride Month, and arguing that schools should not teach children that people can transition. In its advice for parents on sex and gender in schools, it also states clearly: "Schools should not celebrate festivals such as Transgender Day of Remembrance." It is very difficult to find examples of Sex Matters campaigning on issues which do not relate to gender identity or matters related to the so-called trans "debate". To describe Sex Matters as simply a "feminist campaigning group" would be misleading, and fail to take into account its primary function. The National – an "anti-woman newspaper"? Myself and the reporters on staff at The National would have once been horrified to learn that JK Rowling had described us as "anti-woman". Today, it reads simply as another Twitter insult dispensed without any grounding in reality. So, here are the facts. The National is led by a woman, with a female assistant editor. On staff, we have more women working as reporters than men. An equal number of men and women write columns for us. We are part of the Pass the Mic programme, mentoring a number of women of colour in Scotland every year and helping them break into the media. We have campaigned on issues like buffer zones, pushing the Scottish Government to bring in legislation to protect women from abuse. For the 2024 International Women's Day, an all-women team produced the newspaper. Everything from the front page to the sports section was written and edited by women. It was the first time this had been done in the Scottish media in my own lifetime. Some of the team in the office for the International Women's Day edition in 2024 (Image: Colin Mearns) That edition looked at a range of issues affecting women in Scotland and around the world. Those challenges included women in Gaza being forced to have C-sections without anaesthetic, thanks to Israel's systematic destruction of the health service. This is an extremely urgent feminist campaigning issue which I have not heard Rowling or her friends at Sex Matters raise concerns over. Rowling has chosen to respond to language she did not like (due to its perceived sympathy towards trans people) by launching an intellectually lazy attack on a newspaper, primarily staffed by women, with a strong track record on reporting on feminist issues. Ultimately, I question the feminist credentials of those who brand the women working at The National "handmaidens" or accuse us of internalised misogyny because the coverage doesn't align neatly with their specific views. It is also not for JK Rowling to determine what all women think or feel. Nobody, no matter how wealthy or influential, can speak for all of us. Thankfully, arguments like Rowling's will not convince many people who are not already deep down the anti-trans rabbit hole. But her attempts to control our language are not welcome and should be called out by those who claim to value free speech. At The National we deal in truth, and will not be cowed by a billionaire trying to control media output to fit her own worldview.
Spectator
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
JK Rowling blasts the National as ‘anti-women'
Scotland's self-identifying 'newspaper' is at it again – and this time it has provoked the wrath of renowned writer JK Rowling. The National has chosen to dunk, yet again, on women's rights organisation Sex Matters, dubbing it an 'anti-trans campaign group' which is 'threatening' legal action after it raised concerns about how the Scottish government is – or, more to the point, is not – implementing the recent Supreme Court judgment that backed the biological definition of a woman. But feminist-in-chief Rowling has had enough – and was quick to slam the Nat-obsessed tabloid as 'anti-woman'. Ouch. Taking to Twitter, Rowling defended Sex Matters – which intervened in the For Women Scotland gender case – after remarking scathingly: 'For Women Scotland is a feminist campaigning group. You appear to be an anti-woman newspaper.' And she's not the only one left unimpressed by the pro-indy paper's choice of language. For Women Scotland have waded into the conversation, pondering under Rowling's post: I do wonder if the head of Newsquest is aware that this smear – which lawyers suggested, only last night, amounts to defamation – is routine in the National. Oo er. The separatist bulletin is certainly no stranger to controversy. It fell foul of the Scottish press pack after one of its reporters first wrongly reported that Alba party members had verbally abused First Minister John Swinney inside the cathedral where Alex Salmond's funeral was taking place – before secondly shirking responsibility by claiming that of the journalists there, 'we had all mistaken inside for outside'. Cue a rather miffed response from the Beeb's Scotland editor, who indignantly wrote back that: 'It is not true to say 'we had ALL mistaken inside for outside'. At no point did I hear any jeering inside nor did I hear anyone suggest there was any.' It just goes from bad to worse, eh? And Mr S would remind readers that the secessionist journal managed to rather successfully annoy even its own columnists after it printed an Anglo-bashing splash last year before of the Euros final between England and Spain. Ahead of the match, the newspaper decided to depict a rather large red-faced, bare-chested, tattooed England fan as a football being launched into the air by Spanish midfielder Rodri. 'Time for revenge!' the cover screamed, 'Our message to Spain: Save us from an England win (or we'll never hear the end of it!)'. It prompted one of its own columnists, ex-SNP MP Joanna Cherry, to tweet: 'No. I really don't like this at all' – while SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn slammed the design for its 'xenophobia'. The National's editor eventually rowed back – but it was too little too late… At the time of writing, the piece remains online with its language unchanged. Will the National be forced to U-turn once again, with the help of FWS's little legal reminder? Stay tuned…
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Scottish government given deadline to implement ruling on biological sex
The Scottish government has been given a deadline to implement the UK supreme court's ruling on biological sex across all public bodies or face further legal challenges. Sex Matters, the UK-wide gender-critical campaign group, has threatened legal action in 14 days if ministers continue 'intolerable' delays to new policies and guidance required by April's landmark ruling that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 does not include transgender women who hold gender recognition certificates. The move reflects ongoing frustration among gender-critical campaign groups at what For Women Scotland, who brought the supreme court case, described as 'extraordinary pushback' since the unanimous judgment. Politicians, LGBT+ rights groups and prominent supporters have raised concerns that the ruling could result in the erosion of rights, privacy and dignity of trans people across the UK. These fears were increased after the equality watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) brought out interim advice soon after the judgment which, they said, amounted to a blanket ban on trans people using toilets of their lived gender, which many in the community said effectively excluded them from public spaces. The ruling has wide-ranging implications for service providers, public bodies and businesses, with the EHRC currently consulting on a revised code of practice that will provide a practical guide on implementation. However, the Sex Matters letter says the consultation is 'not an invitation – particularly to public authorities – to act in a way that is unlawful in the meantime'. Sex Matters intervened in the supreme court case that was brought by For Women Scotland against the Scottish government over a law aimed at improving gender representation on public boards. Maya Forstater, a founder of Sex Matters, said the supreme court was clear that legal protection for trans people 'does not translate into a right to use opposite-sex services', adding that allowing trans women to use women's toilets, showers and changing rooms had 'created a hostile environment for women'. Sex Matters is particularly concerned about the Scottish government's guidance for schools, which encourage teaching staff offer flexible arrangements for young transgender people and states that the use of toilets is governed by social convention rather than law. The Good Law Project, which is challenging the EHRC's interim advice in court next month, revealed earlier this week that the commission appeared to be rolling back on its initial blanket position. Last weekend, For Women Scotland co-director Susan Smith encouraged individuals to 'keep pressure on MSPs and MPs', and make use of the fighting fund announced by the author and activist, JK Rowling, to launch their own actions. Rowling said the fund was 'not going to be sharing any details or figures about applications and inquiries, as it's a private fund, not a fundraising charity, and funding details are strictly confidential'. A Scottish government spokesperson said that they would respond to the letter in due course. They said: 'The Scottish government has been clear that we accept the supreme court judgment. We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation potentially impacted by the judgment.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
SNP ministers face new trans row legal threat
The Scottish Government is being threatened with legal action unless it ends the 'unlawful' practice of allowing biological males to use female-only spaces 'immediately'. Maya Forstater, CEO of Sex Matters, has written to SNP ministers urging them not to wait for Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance on how April's Supreme Court ruling should be implemented. Judges ruled that biological sex defined if a person is male or female and put women- only spaces off-limits to biological males who identify as women. It was a huge defeat for Scottish ministers after campaign group For Women Scotland took them to court. Since then there have been calls for the SNP government to order public bodies, including prisons, hospitals and schools, to fully comply with the ruling. Speaking at the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh last night, Ms Forstater insisted the government has been 'stalling' by failing to take action until the EHRC issues guidance. And she warned that her human rights charity is now prepared to take legal action. She said: 'The judgment has clarified the law. Its effect is not suspended pending updated guidance from the EHRC. It is the law now. To the extent that the Scottish Government does not immediately stop its unlawful practices we may decide to commence proceedings. We have consulted with counsel and are prepared to litigate.' The Scottish Government last night said: 'We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation potentially impacted by the judgment.' Police Scotland has been ordered to carry out a review after it failed to disclose a transgender prisoner's criminal record. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the force had made an 'error' after a lawyer got a blank rap sheet back from the Crown Office for convicted killer Alex Stewart – who was originally called Alan Baker.
STV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Scottish Government threatened with legal action over single-sex spaces
The Scottish Government has been threatened with legal action if it fails to implement the recent Supreme Court judgement on biological sex in equalities law. Sex Matters, which intervened in the For Women Scotland case against the government, has sent ministers a formal 'letter before action'. In April, the Supreme Court said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex – a ruling which had implications for access to single-sex spaces. Sex Matters argue the Scottish Government is failing to implement the ruling in the public sector, though ministers including John Swinney have said they accept the judgment and are waiting for further guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission before taking the next steps. 'It is clear that taking no action at the moment is not a lawful option that is available to the Scottish Government,' the letter said. 'As a bare minimum, the Scottish Government is required – now – to review and amend its practices and policies and guidance to ensure that it is made clear that 'single-sex spaces' means single biological sex spaces. 'A failure to take that step will mean that the Scottish Government is deliberately choosing to act unlawfully.' The letter urges the Scottish Government to comply with the UK Supreme Court ruling from April, which determined that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act refer to biological women and sex. Scottish ministers previously said the judgement will 'inevitably' mean changes to the advice given to public bodies and health boards about single-sex spaces. However, the Scottish Government has been waiting for fresh guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) before making any permanent changes. This 'proposed delay' has caused concern for the Sex Matters group. Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme on Wednesday, the charity's CEO Maya Forstater said: 'The Supreme Court has made the law absolutely clear: men are male and women are female and both have a right to dignity and privacy in things like toilets and changing rooms as well as specialist services like women's refuges. 'The Scottish Government is dragging its feet, it hasn't changed its policies.' Ms Forstater said the government had not implemented the ruling in schools or in its own facilities. She said the government has 14 days to reply to the letter, adding: 'All we're asking them to do is put a simple statement on their website which says that their facilities are separated by sex and they also provide unisex facilities so everyone's included.' In response to Sex Matters' concerns, a spokesman for the government told The Times: 'The Scottish Government has been clear that we accept the Supreme Court judgment. 'We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation potentially impacted by the judgment. 'This will prepare us to take all necessary steps when the regulator of the Equality Act 2010, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, publishes its revised statutory code of practice and associated guidance for services, public functions and associations. The EHRC is currently consulting on this revised code of practice. 'We will respond to any letter received in due course.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
