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4 months ago
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The SNP was accused of having a culture of ‘festering misogyny’ by a former MP yesterday as its civil war raged on.
Joanna Cherry, KC, said her party had ignored sexism in its ranks ‘for years’ and must now ‘listen to women’
MSP Elena Whitham, who recently quit as drugs policy minister citing post-traumatic stress, said she experienced misogyny last year ‘and it very nearly broke me’.
An SNP councillor described the problem as ‘rife and unchecked within our party’.
Mr Swinney, who became First Minister in May vowing to unite the SNP, is now toiling to keep it together amid unprecedented infighting and an outpouring of grievances.
John Swinney's election campaign has been described as ‘lacklustre and reactive’ by a former MP
Since the party’s collapse from 48 seats to nine at the General Election last week,
it has been convulsed by a blame game and arguments over how to avoid a repeat defeat at Holyrood in 2026.
Ms Cherry, who lost in Edinburgh South West, previously claimed she was bullied and ostracised for defending sex-based women’s rights and opposing Nicola Sturgeon’s failed gender reforms.
On Friday, she was attacked online by Derec Thompson, a former worker for two other Nationalist MPs. Mr Thompson called her a ‘pathetic, narcissistic, abusive loser’.
Ms Cherry reposted the message, adding: ‘I won’t miss the stinking misogyny of some of the men I’ve had to work with in the SNP.’
Oban councillor Julie McKenzie, who ditched a run for Holyrood in 2021 after a sexist party member asked her who would look after her children, agreed.
She told Ms Cherry: ‘I applaud you for calling out the misogyny that’s rife and unchecked within our party.
‘You give all of us who’ve struggled with it hope for better days ahead.’
Ms Whitham joined the conversation, adding: ‘I had never experienced it first hand until last year and it very nearly broke me. It cannot be allowed to persist.’
Ms Cherry wrote: ‘More and more women are starting to speak out about the festering problem of misogyny in the SNP. For years, the party has ignored complaints about men like Derec Thompson. It’s time to act, and to listen to women.’
Mr Thompson responded: ‘Joanna Cherry accuses everyone of being a misogynist, except for the actual misogynists she associates with.’
The breakdown in discipline added to Mr Swinney’s woes as he faced a new call to quit. Former party treasurer Douglas Chapman, who stood down as a Fife MP ahead of the election hammering, said the leader should go to allow a ‘fresh start’.
Joanna Cherry, who lost in Edinburgh South West, said she was bullied for opposing ex-leader Nicola Sturgeon’s failed gender reforms
He told the Herald: ‘I know he has not been in the post long, but it’s time to clear the decks and use the next 700 days to make sure there is a pro-independence government in Holyrood come 2026.’
But defeated Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard told the Mail: ‘We’ve got party structures that are barely fit for purpose.
‘It’s facile to think changing a couple of people is the answer to our problems.
‘There are bigger problems than who’s the face at the top. Besides which, I have confidence in Swinney.’
Former Nationalist MP Alyn Smith, who lost his Stirling and Strathallan seat last week, hit out at the party’s campaign, claiming it had been ‘lacklustre and reactive’, with a ‘by the numbers’ manifesto.
He added: ‘Fundamentally, we did not give the voters a reason to stick with us.’
Scottish Tory chief whip Alexander Burnett said: ‘John Swinney’s pledge to unite his party after becoming leader now lies in tatters.’
The SNP was asked for comment.
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