MSPs on Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee must “do the right thing” and back Scottish Conservative-led calls to sack its Deputy Convener Maggie Chapman.
Ahead of its next meeting on Tuesday, committee member and shadow equalities minister Tess White has put forward a motion calling on the committee to recommend that the Green MSP be removed from her position.
Tess White has urged the SNP MSPs on the committee, including convener Karen Adam, as well as Labour MSP Paul O’Kane to join her and her colleague Pam Gosal in taking action against Maggie Chapman for her outburst against the Supreme Court.
In light of its ruling on the definition of a woman, the Green MSP accused the highest court in the land of “bigotry, prejudice and hatred”.
The Faculty of Advocates described her comments as “outrageous”, with Roddy Dunlop KC saying they “created a risk of danger” to members of the Supreme Court.
First Minister John Swinney also said her remarks were “wrong” and Tess White says SNP MSPs should listen to their leader and vote with her on Tuesday.
If the motion is successful, it will then go to a vote of the full Parliament to decide whether Maggie Chapman remains in her role.
Scottish Conservative shadow minister for equalities Tess White MSP said: “Maggie Chapman’s comments were utterly outrageous and totally inexcusable for any MSP to make.
“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.
“MSPs of all persuasions have a duty to respect the rule of law, no matter what they feel about a particular verdict. It was shameless that Maggie Chapman described the highest court in the land in these terms and it is little wonder that led to an unprecedented intervention from the Faculty of Advocates.
“SNP MSPs on this committee will have seen their own leader John Swinney condemn Maggie Chapman’s comments. Are they really going to defy their leader and condone this Green MSP’s comments?
“I hope my motion will be the first step in Parliament agreeing to take appropriate action against Maggie Chapman for her shameful attack on the Supreme Court and subsequent refusal to apologise for it.
“If SNP MSPs and Labour’s representative on the committee do not join the Scottish Conservatives on Tuesday in this vote, then the public, particularly women, will question whose side are they on.”
Notes:
Tess White’s motion is here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-equalities-human-rights-and-civil-justice-committee/meetings/2025/equalities-human-rights-and-civil-justice-committee-29-april-2025