Joanna Cherry’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe show to go ahead with extra checks over safety fears

Published

10 months ago

August 7, 2023

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Extra security checks such as bag searches and metal detectors will be in place at the Edinburgh Fringe show of SNP MP Joanna Cherry over safety fears.

There will also be no alcohol served at the venue while the show is going on.

The MP for Edinburgh West is due to speak at The Stand on Thursday in an event that was initially cancelled after some members of staff refused to work it, citing opposition to her “gender critical” views.

Ms Cherry has been a vocal critic of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill – which aims to simplify the process for people to change gender in the eyes of the law – that passed through the Scottish Parliament late last year.

The bill, which will see the Scottish and UK governments battle it out in court, has been a contentious issue with critics arguing it undermines women’s rights and single-sex spaces.

Following criticism over its cancellation of her show, The Stand later apologised to Ms Cherry and performed a U-turn, saying its initial decision was “unfair and constituted unlawful discrimination” against the SNP MP.

Ms Cherry had threatened the venue with legal action, claiming she was removed from the billing as a result of “being a lesbian with gender critical views”.

On Sunday, after the heightened security measures were reported in The Herald, Ms Cherry tweeted: “Today’s Herald reveals the price of free speech in modern Scotland.

“It’s a disgrace that any public speaker should face threats to personal safety on account of their sexuality and feminist beliefs. Those responsible should hang their heads in shame.”

A statement from The Stand said: “Following an external risk assessment and in consultation with Police Scotland, The Stand will employ extra measures to ensure the safety of everyone involved with staging the show and members of the audience.

“Unfortunately, to allow extra bag searches to take place on entrance to the theatre, we have had to close our bar for the hour-long duration of the event which starts at 12 noon on Thursday.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers but clearly we can’t compromise on safety for this or any other show.”

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed by MSPs just before Christmas.

It then became a constitutional dispute in January when the UK government took the unprecedented step of using section 35 of the Scotland Act to block the bill from receiving royal assent and becoming law.

The Scottish government then lodged a petition for a judicial review over Westminster’s veto of the bill, setting the stage for a prolonged legal battle.

Politics

Tornado Cash verdict has chilling implications for crypto industry

Published

49 mins ago

May 19, 2024

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Tornado Cash verdict has chilling implications for crypto industry

The conviction of Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev reinforces a very broad interpretation of criminal liability, which has major repercussions for blockchain.

Politics

Grant Shapps ‘angry inside’ over infected blood scandal ahead of inquiry report

Published

4 hours ago

May 19, 2024

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Grant Shapps 'angry inside' over infected blood scandal ahead of inquiry report

The defence secretary has said he is “angry inside” over the infected blood scandal ahead of a long-waited report into the decades-long injustice.

Grant Shapps told Sky News he agreed it had been one of the most “shameful failures” of government and said he was dismayed by the “lack of anybody taking responsibility”.

The findings of a public inquiry into the scandal, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, are due to be published on Monday.

From 1970 to the 1990s, tens of thousands of people were infected with contaminated blood through blood products or blood transfusions given via the NHS. People were infected with hepatitis or HIV – in some cases with both.

An estimated 3,000 people died as a result.

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Mr Shapps told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that the scandal was a “massive injustice which needs to be put right” and said the government would act on the report.

He said that while he was yet to see the report, he hoped it would finally allow families’ pain and loss to be acknowledged and for the government to properly respond.

Mr Shapps said he had spoken to relatives of several victims, including a couple who had lost their son, and said their stories made feel him “angry inside”.

He added: “It just made me angry to know they had lost their son without anyone ever taking responsibility, so I think this is why this report tomorrow is very important.”

Successive governments have been blamed for failing to take responsibility and the current government has been accused of trying to delay compensation to victims after an inquiry was first set up by Theresa May in 2017.

It is estimated that the compensation bill could now exceed £10m.

The defence secretary admitted the process of delivering payouts to victims had gone on for “so long”.

He added: “This is a massive injustice which needs to be put right.

“And I know the government said we will. The report tomorrow, I think, will be the day for that family and others and I know the government will want to respond quickly.”

Asked whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would apologise to the victims, Mr Shapps said: “I don’t want to mislead because I don’t have special insight into that.”

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Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting also told Trevor Phillips that he expected “successive governments” to be criticised in the report by Sir Brian.

“Everyone has got their responsibility to bear in this appalling scandal and we have got a shared responsibility to put it right,” he said.

“The moment to act can’t come soon enough.”

Sir Brian is due to deliver his final report just after midday on Monday.