SNP MP Joanna Cherry says she’s been ‘cancelled’ over gender views after Edinburgh Fringe event scrapped
The SNP’s Joanna Cherry claims she has been “cancelled” from appearing at an Edinburgh Festival Fringe event for being a “lesbian who holds gender-critical views”.
The MP was due to appear at The Stand in August as part of an In Conversation With series of events organised by Fair Pley Productions.
However, the comedy club has said it is no longer able to host the show after key operational staff said they were “unwilling” to work it.
Speaking on Radio Scotland’s Drivetime programme on Tuesday, Ms Cherry said: “I think I’m being cancelled and no-platformed because I’m a lesbian who holds gender-critical views – that is to say that I think [somebody’s] sex is immutable. Somebody’s gender identity is not more important than the sex that they’re born.
“I have made those views clear over a number of years. I have never said that trans people shouldn’t have equal rights.”
Ms Cherry, the MP for Edinburgh South West, 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.
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.
Ms Cherry says ‘something’s gone very wrong in Scotland’s civic space’
Ms Cherry, who was invited by Fair Pley Productions to take part in the event, planned to talk about a number of topics including her career in politics as well the independence movement and the current controversies surrounding the SNP.
She said: “But because a small number of people don’t like my lesbian and feminist activism, I’m being prevented from talking about all of those things in the festival of my home city where I am an elected politician.”
She added: “I think it says that something’s gone very wrong in Scotland’s civic space.
“Small groups of activists are now dictating who can speak and what can be discussed.”
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December 2022: SNP on Scotland’s gender reforms
Other events set to be held this year as part of the In Conversation With series include interviews with the likes of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and The Bluebells founder Bobby Bluebell.
Ms Cherry said: “I would hope The Stand would see sense here. Staff shouldn’t be framing The Stand’s editorial and artistic policy.”
Read more:
Gender reform bill: Scottish and UK governments to enter legal battle
Why is Scotland’s gender recognition reform bill controversial?
In a statement made earlier in April, The Stand said it “did not endorse or support the views” of any participant in the In Conversation With series.
A spokesperson said: “Whilst we may disagree with a particular viewpoint, we believe that people should have the right to express views that others might find controversial or strongly disagree with, providing this is done within the law and does not violate our code of conduct.”
The club noted that some staff had expressed concern over the event and their views would be “respected”.
In a fresh statement issued on Monday, a spokesperson said: “Following extensive discussions with our staff it has become clear that a number of The Stand’s key operational staff, including venue management and box office personnel, are unwilling to work on this event.
“As we have previously stated, we will ensure that their views are respected.
“We will not compel our staff to work on this event and so have concluded that the event is unable to proceed on a properly staffed, safe and legally compliant basis.”
UK
Harshita Brella: Woman found in car boot in Ilford died from strangulation – as CCTV of suspect released
A woman whose body was found in the boot of a car last week died from strangulation, according to a post-mortem examination.
A manhunt is under way for Harshita Brella’s husband, Pankaj Lamba, who police believe has fled the country.
Officers said today that her body was discovered in a silver Vauxhall Corsa.
They believe she was killed on the evening of Sunday 10 November and driven in the early hours from the couple’s home in Corby, Northamptonshire, to Ilford in east London.
The body was found in a Vauxhall Corsa. Pic: Northamptonshire Police
Police believe Pankaj Lamba has fled the UK
It’s understood the 24-year-old had been under the protection of a court order for victims of domestic abuse.
Northamptonshire Police said officers began searching for her after receiving a call with concerns for her welfare on 13 November – the day before she was found dead.
A post-mortem examination found Ms Brella’s preliminary cause of death was strangulation, police said.
New CCTV images of Pankaj Lamba, 23, have also been released as the manhunt continues.
Ms Brella lived in Corby. Pic: Northamptonshire Police
The couple lived at an address in Skegness Walk. Pic: PA
Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands major crime unit, said: “We suspect Harshita’s body had been placed in the boot of the vehicle by Lamba before leaving Corby.
“Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford, and made his getaway.”
Northamptonshire Police, the East Midlands major crime unit and the National Crime Agency are working together to try to find him.
New CCTV of the suspect has been released
Pics: Northamptonshire Police
An inquest into Ms Brella’s death will be opened on 20 November at The Guildhall in Northampton.
Anyone who thinks they might have seen Pankaj Lamba is urged to make contact as soon as possible.
“Any information, no matter how small, may be relevant to the investigation and help us get justice for Harshita,” said DCI Campbell.
People with relevant information can call 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or online at mipp.police.uk
Zoe Ball is leaving her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after six years.
The 53-year-old, who recently lost her mother to cancer, will present her last show on Friday, 20 December.
Ball leaves Wogan House with her replacement, Scott Mills. Pic: PA
She said she was leaving to focus on family, but will remain part of the Radio 2 team and will give further details next year.
Announcing the news on her Tuesday show, she said: “After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
“You know I think the world of you all, listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life’s little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn’t we?
“We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.”
Scott Mills will replace Ball on the breakfast show following her departure next month.
“Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1,” he said.
“She’s done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton.”
Hugging outside the BBC building on the day of the announcement, Ball said she was “really chuffed for my mate and really excited about it”.
Ball was the first female host of both the BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows, starting at the Radio 1 breakfast show in 1998, and taking over her current Radio 2 role from Chris Evans in 2020 after he left the show.
She took a break from hosting her show over the summer, returning in September.
Ahead of her stint in radio, Ball – who is the daughter of children’s presenter Johnny Ball – co-hosted the BBC’s Saturday morning children’s magazine show Live & Kicking alongside Jamie Theakston for three years from 1996.
She has two children, Woody and Nelly, with her ex-husband, DJ and musician Norman Cook, known professionally as Fatboy Slim.
Ball said in her announcement her last show towards the end of December will be “just in time for Christmas with plenty of fun and shenanigans”.
“While I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year,” she added.
“I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!”
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “Zoe has woken up the nation on Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since January 2019, and I’d like to thank her for approaching each show with as much vim and vigour as if it were her first. I’m thrilled that she’ll remain an important part of the Radio 2 family.”
Mills, 51, got his first presenting role aged just 16 for a local station in Hampshire, and went on to present in Bristol and Manchester, before joining BBC Radio 1 in 1998.
He’s previously worked as a cover presenter on Radio 2, but this is his first permanent role on the station.
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