MSP who accused Supreme Court of 'bigotry and hatred' facing committee removal

A Green MSP who accused the UK Supreme Court of “bigotry, prejudice, and hatred” at a rally in Aberdeen is now facing forcible committee removal for her comments.

Maggie Chapman could be axed from Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee after slamming the Supreme Court over its ruling on the definition of a woman last week.

The North East Scotland MSP previously said she will not apologise, stand down or reconsider her role as deputy convenor of the equalities committee in the face of the controversy.

However, a motion from Tory MSP Tess White could force her out if it’s approved by other ministers.

White has lodged a motion to remove Chapman from the committee ahead of its next meeting on Tuesday.

“Maggie Chapman’s comments were utterly outrageous and totally inexcusable for any MSP to make,” White said.

“Her position as deputy convener of Holyrood’s equalities committee is untenable. I urge my fellow MSPs on the committee to do the right thing on Tuesday and back my call to recommend that she be removed from her position.”

The motion comes just days after Scotland’s top lawyer called for a “fulsome and swift apology” from Chapman and questioned whether she could continue as deputy convenor.

“These are appalling comments to come from any elected politician,” Roddy Dunlop KC, the dean of the Faculty of Advocates, said.

“They are all the worse when they come from someone who holds the post of deputy convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

“It really should not require to be said, but the Supreme Court – indeed, all judges – are in post to apply the law. They do not take sides. They decide without fear or favour, consistently with the judicial oath.

“For Ms Chapman to claim that they were swayed by ‘bigotry, prejudice and hatred’ is outrageous. We are talking about the apex court of these islands, in this instance made up of a bench which included two of Scotland’s finest legal minds, as well as two women.

“No sensible person could read their dispassionate analysis and conclude that they were swayed by such matters.”

Watch
Colin Mackay quizzes Maggie Chapman on Supreme Court ruling comments

White hopes her motion will be the “first step” in Parliament agreeing to take appropriate action against Chapman for her remarks – and for her refusal to apologise for them.

If the motion is successful, it will go to a vote of the full Parliament to decide whether Maggie Chapman remains in her role.

First Minister John Swinney has also said Chapman’s comments were “wrong” in that she questioned the independence of the judiciary.

On Friday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was asked about Chapman’s position as deputy convener of the committee.

He said: “Ultimately, this is a matter for the committee and for structures of the Parliament.

“But I think there is a broader point here which is people have strong views, and I am perfectly relaxed with people having strong views, people can have big disagreements, that’s part of our democracy, part of debates.

“But when we get into the place of attacking the judiciary, attacking law officers, attacking judges, undermining the rule of law and calling people bigoted or racist or sexist based on judgments made on the evidence of the law, I think that takes us down a very, very dangerous route.”

The committee will meet on Tuesday morning to discuss the motion.