Latest news with #SPCB
Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Abusive social media posts directed at MSPs tripled in past year
It comes after the Scottish Parliament employed two members of staff – including a former police inspector – to trawl the social media accounts of 69 MSPs. The pair found 23,507 posts considered abusive between 2024 and 2025. However, the posts did not reach the required level to be considered criminal. Last year, the figure was 8,110. READ NEXT: Tesco tease plans to improve popular superstore In the most recent year, 257 posts were referred to Police Scotland – down from 461 the previous year – with one case proceeding to court. The SNP saw the highest level of abuse, with 15,749 posts directed towards its MSPs. Scottish Labour MSPs were next with 4,150, while the Conservatives were targeted in 1,888 posts. Scottish Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs faced 939 and 729 abusive posts respectively, while 52 messages targeted independent members. Male MSPs received vastly more abuse than their female colleagues, with 19,511 messages compared to 3,996. READ NEXT: American rock band to perform at Glasgow nightclub Lynsey Hamill, Holyrood's director of operations and digital, said: 'Whilst it is too early to draw any firm conclusions on trends and success of the scheme when comparing data from the pilot year and year one, we can see the scale of online abuse of MSPs is now readily apparent and growing. 'This chimes with feedback we have had from members for some time now.' A Scottish Parliament spokesperson added: 'The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is acutely aware of the rising level of threat against elected representatives. 'Last year, the SPCB invested £125,000 to make permanent its online threat managing service. 'Under the service, potentially criminal threats are identified by the Parliament's security team and escalated to Police Scotland for its action.'
The National
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Abusive social media posts targeting MSPs soar in one year to 23,500
An initiative by the Scottish Parliament has employed two members of staff – one a former police inspector – to trawl the social media accounts of 69 MSPs who signed up to the review. The pair found 23,507 posts considered abusive in 2024-25, but which did not reach the required level to be considered criminal. The previous year, the figure was 8110. READ MORE: Scottish Government removes WhatsApp from all official devices In the most recent year, 257 posts were referred to Police Scotland – down from 461 the previous year – with one case proceeding to court. The SNP – Holyrood's largest party and the party of Government – saw the highest level of abuse, with 15,749 posts directed towards its MSPs, but which were not deemed to reach the criminal threshold. Scottish Labour MSPs were next with 4150, while the Scottish Tories were targeted in 1888 posts. Scottish Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs faced 939 and 729 abusive posts respectively, while 52 messages targeted independent members. Male MSPs received vastly more abuse than their female colleagues, with 19,511 messages compared to 3996. The Scottish Parliament's monitoring software searches social media for threatening and abusive language and can refer the posts to police if required. A briefing sent to MSPs by Holyrood's director of operations and digital, Lynsey Hamill, said: 'Whilst it is too early to draw any firm conclusions on trends and success of the scheme when comparing data from the pilot year and year one, we can see the scale of online abuse of MSPs is now readily apparent and growing. 'This chimes with feedback we have had from members for some time now.' A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is acutely aware of the rising level of threat against elected representatives. 'Last year, the SPCB invested £125,000 to make permanent its online threat managing service. 'Under the service, potentially criminal threats are identified by the Parliament's security team and escalated to Police Scotland for its action.'
Scotsman
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Holyrood body admits causing 'upset' amid calls to U-turn on its trans toilet policy
This comes as pressure grows for the Scottish Government to update its official guidance on single-sex spaces. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Holyrood body admits people will be 'upset' and 'anxious' about its ban on trans women using the parliament's female toilets. Last month the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) ruled that single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms must be interpreted by biological sex only, meaning trans people would not be allowed to use the facilities of their acquired gender. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This comes after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex. The Scottish Parliament. Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has now called for the SPCB to rescind this decision. He said: 'In previous discussions in this chamber and in a letter to me, the SPCB says it remains committed to an inclusive environment and its intention is that everyone should feel welcome and included in Holyrood. 'But this demonstrates the opposite - this makes trans people feel significantly less welcome at parliament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The decision is described as one that brings confidence and dignity to everyone, but it will exclude and segregate trans people in the heart of Scotland's democracy.' He added the toilet ban is already having a 'negative impact' on trans and gender non-conforming members of staff. Mr Harvie added: 'Surely it is time for the SPCB to think again and rescind this unclear, unfair position?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jackson Carlaw MSP, who was speaking on behalf of the SPCB, said the body cannot debate the rights and wrongs of the Supreme Court judgement. He said: 'It is our job to ensure we are implementing the law as communicated to us. 'Let me acknowledge on behalf of the body that for some this has proved upsetting and has caused anxiety.' Mr Carlaw added: 'It is our responsibility as a service provider and employer to recognise the judgement had immediate legal effect. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We took urgent steps to review this for facilities in Holyrood in line with the Equality and Human Rights Commission statement on the Equality Act 2010 and our need to comply with it.' Jackson Carlaw MSP. Pam Gosal MSP warned the parliament would have risked using taxpayers' cash to foot expensive legal bills if it had not made this decision. She said: 'Let's be clear, we are talking about the UK Supreme Court. 'The law is the law, and nobody is above it.' The Scottish Government has come under increasing pressure to update its guidance to public bodies on single-sex spaces following the court judgement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier this week the campaign group Sex Matters sent a legal letter to Scottish ministers threatening to take them back to court if it does not update its guidance. The government says it is waiting for official guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission before updating its guidance. Earlier this week Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth also said she was not concerned about schools having to make their own decisions on single-sex spaces.
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Holyrood governing body defends 'unfair' trans toilet ban
In May, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone announced that access to the parliament's facilities would be based on biological sex, not gender identity, after the Supreme Court judgment on the definition of a woman. Following the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued interim guidance that banned transgender people from using the bathroom of their acquired gender. READ MORE: John Swinney tears into 'weak man' Anas Sarwar at FMQs The move led to MSPs and staff writing to Holyrood's governing body expressing 'deep concern' over the decision, but the policy has remained in place. Westminster, Stormont, and the Senedd have not changed their polices and allow transgender people to use the toilets of their acquired gender. On Thursday, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie raised the issue during SPCB questions. He noted that the SPCB previously said it 'remains committed to providing an inclusive environment' at Holyrood. (Image: Scottish Parliament) Harvie pointed to letters written to officials from LGBT+ groups the Equality Network and Scottish Trans which demonstrated 'the opposite is the case' and the changes will make trans people feel 'less welcome' at the Scottish Parliament. 'I am also aware that the response to colleagues in the staff union, representing staff in the Scottish Green parliamentary group, has also not addressed the substantive points they raised. 'They say it didn't address the lack of initial consultation, specific negative impacts on trans staff members or on gender non conforming people, the violation of privacy and dignity, criticism the EqIA [Equality Impact Assessment] and other points. READ MORE: Protesters take to Holyrood amid 'deadlocked' Ardrossan Harbour deal 'Given that the corporate body is now well aware that it has not achieved its intention of an inclusive workplace, surely it is time for the corporate body to think again and rescind this unclear and unfair interim position until a full position can be consulted on.' Responding on behalf of the SPCB, Scottish Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw insisted the governing body had 'legal responsibilities'. 'Our job, even though we are politicians, is not to debate the politics of an issue, but to ensure that we are implementing the law as the law is communicated to us,' Carlaw told MSPs. (Image: Scottish Parliament) 'Now having said that we recognize the interim stance to fulfill those legal responsibilities is a change. So let me acknowledge on behalf of the SPCB and Mr Harvie that for some this has proved both upsetting and a cause for anxiety and concern for their own wellbeing. 'With this in mind, managers were asked to immediately engage with their teams to discuss the interim stance, to identify any concerns about its impact and to support individuals who may be personally affected. 'This is an ongoing process, and we are committed to the wider wellbeing of our staff, which is embedded in a number of our policies and our management approach.' Carlaw added that the Scottish Parliament was working to 'improve inclusivity' and any further policy changes would take into account the EHRC statutory code 'once it is finalised'. READ MORE: 'Impossible to say' when MV Caledonian Isles will be fixed, says CalMac Scottish Labour's Carol Mochan asked Carlaw to explain why the SPCB chose to introduce changes now before the EHRC's full guidance was published. 'Officials took urgent steps following its publication to review the judgment in detail and consider its implications for services and facilities at Holyrood,' he replied. 'Now this is in line with the EHRC statement that those duties under the Equality 2010 act need to comply with the law and should be urgently reviewing what changes need to be made to their existing policies and practices. It's a matter for others to determine how they address their responsibilities.' Scottish Tory MSP Pam Gosal noted that anti-trans campaign group Sex Matters have 'warned they will come after organisations refusing to follow the ruling' and a challenge would leave 'taxpayers footing the bill'. (Image: Scottish Parliament) 'Therefore will the Parliament commit to following and implementing the interim update issued by the EHRC on the protection of single sex spaces,' she said. 'It is the responsibility of the corporate body to implement the law and the advice that we receive. That is what the corporate body's duty is. 'I've said, of course, that it's an interim position, and that there's a consultation taking place. 'That we remain committed to inclusivity, and that that is the primary objective of the work that we are doing.'
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Holyrood had no choice but to follow law on trans toilet ban
In response, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) advised public bodies to review policies relating to single-sex spaces. That prompted parliament to redesignate several existing toilets and changing rooms as gender-neutral, and restrict single-sex facilities to sex. READ MORE Scottish Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie raised the matter during questions to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Bureau (SPCB), the cross-party group responsible for the running of Holyrood. He accused the SPCB of promoting an 'exclusionary and segregating' policy and said the decision made the body's stated intention 'that everyone should feel welcome and included at Holyrood' appear 'nonsense'. Mr Harvie cited letters from the Equality Network and Scottish Trans, which warned that the change would make trans people feel significantly less welcome at the Parliament. 'They go on to say we cannot understand why this decision has been described as one that will bring confidence, privacy and dignity to everyone. It will not do so for trans people. It will exclude us and segregate us in the heart of Scotland's democracy,' he said. He added that concerns raised by staff in the Scottish Greens' parliamentary group — including the negative impact on trans and gender non-conforming people and the 'violation of privacy and dignity' — had not been addressed. Patrick Harvie raised the ban in SPCB questions (Image: PA) Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw, speaking on behalf of the SPCB, said the ruling had 'immediate legal effect' and that the corporate body had a legal obligation to act without delay. "The corporate body is an executive body with legal responsibilities and the personal liability of the members who sit on it. Our job, even though we are politicians, is not to debate the politics of an issue, but to ensure that we are implementing the law as the law is communicated to us." He added: 'It is our responsibility to fulfil the legal obligations as an employer, service provider, workplace provider, and as an organisation subject to the public sector equality duty." Pressed by Mr Harvie, he said the interim position was taken on legal advice and that a broader consultation — including with trade unions and equality organisations — had now been approved. 'We announced the interim stance. We agreed to conduct a consultation, and together with officials the corporate body has been considering its approach,' he said. Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba told the chamber that Parliament staff unions had not been consulted and described assurances to the contrary as 'categorically untrue'. She called for 'meaningful consultation' going forward. READ MORE Tory MSP Pam Gosal welcomed the SPCB's actions, pointing to warnings from the campaign group Sex Matters that legal challenges could follow if public bodies fail to comply with the court's interpretation. 'Sex Matters have warned that they will come after organisations refusing to follow the ruling — that will once again leave the taxpayers footing the bill,' she said. 'Therefore, will the Parliament commit to implementing the interim update issued by the EHRC on the protection of single-sex spaces?' Mr Carlaw reiterated that the SPCB had acted 'on the advice that we receive' and would continue to prioritise inclusion through its upcoming Inclusive Parliament Review.
