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| Sturgeon slams Muirfield over rejection of women members | Sturgeon slams Muirfield over rejection of women members |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has called for the "indefensible" decision of Muirfield Golf Club to reject women as members to be overturned. | Nicola Sturgeon has called for the "indefensible" decision of Muirfield Golf Club to reject women as members to be overturned. |
| A vote at the East Lothian club failed to rally a two-thirds majority of members behind allowing women to join. | A vote at the East Lothian club failed to rally a two-thirds majority of members behind allowing women to join. |
| The club has been barred from hosting the Open Championship as a result. | The club has been barred from hosting the Open Championship as a result. |
| The first minister said the club had the right to set its own rules, but said the decision was "wrong" and "damaging". | The first minister said the club had the right to set its own rules, but said the decision was "wrong" and "damaging". |
| A majority of members taking part in the vote at Muirfield backed allowing women to join, but did not achieve the necessary two-thirds of eligible members to push the move through. | A majority of members taking part in the vote at Muirfield backed allowing women to join, but did not achieve the necessary two-thirds of eligible members to push the move through. |
| Golf's governing body, the Royal and Ancient, said it would not stage the Open "at a venue that does not admit women as members". | Golf's governing body, the Royal and Ancient, said it would not stage the Open "at a venue that does not admit women as members". |
| 'Damaging to club' | 'Damaging to club' |
| Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland that she was "disappointed" by the "indefensible" decision. | Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland that she was "disappointed" by the "indefensible" decision. |
| She said: "Muirfield is a private club and they're in charge of their own rules and regulations, and I accept that, but this is 2016. | She said: "Muirfield is a private club and they're in charge of their own rules and regulations, and I accept that, but this is 2016. |
| "Scotland has women leaders in every walk of life, in politics, in law, in business and everywhere else. I think this decision is wrong, and I hope there's a way of of looking at it again and overturning it. | "Scotland has women leaders in every walk of life, in politics, in law, in business and everywhere else. I think this decision is wrong, and I hope there's a way of of looking at it again and overturning it. |
| "As well as being wrong, it's damaging to Muirfield as a club - I want to see the Open played at Muirfield, it's a fantastic golf course, so this really is a regrettable decision." | "As well as being wrong, it's damaging to Muirfield as a club - I want to see the Open played at Muirfield, it's a fantastic golf course, so this really is a regrettable decision." |
| Ms Sturgeon rejected the suggestion that the decision had any wider message about Scottish society. | Ms Sturgeon rejected the suggestion that the decision had any wider message about Scottish society. |
| She said: "The fact that I'm sitting here in the first minister's office says that Scotland is a country that values the contribution of women. | She said: "The fact that I'm sitting here in the first minister's office says that Scotland is a country that values the contribution of women. |
| "There are still barriers to women in every walk of life, but women also make progress in Scotland. Scotland is a welcoming place for women to progress in, so I don't want this decision to be seen as as reflection on modern Scotland, it's a reflection of a minority of members at Muirfield." | "There are still barriers to women in every walk of life, but women also make progress in Scotland. Scotland is a welcoming place for women to progress in, so I don't want this decision to be seen as as reflection on modern Scotland, it's a reflection of a minority of members at Muirfield." |
| 'Outdated attitude' | 'Outdated attitude' |
| Other political parties have also been quick to condemn the decision. | Other political parties have also been quick to condemn the decision. |
| Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the golf club's decision was "hugely disappointing". | |
| She added: "I would urge Muirfield Golf Club to think again and find a way to reverse this decision, otherwise it will rightly find itself ostracised from the Scottish golfing community. | |
| "If ever a decision highlighted how much we need to keep up the fight for equality in Scotland this is it." | |
| Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton, who had campaigned for allowing women members ahead of the vote, said it was "very disappointing". | Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton, who had campaigned for allowing women members ahead of the vote, said it was "very disappointing". |
| She said: "I understand that there are traditions involved here, and the members knew fine well what the consequences of this decision would be. | She said: "I understand that there are traditions involved here, and the members knew fine well what the consequences of this decision would be. |
| "But we have to move with the times, and this will be seen widely as a very outdated attitude for a sporting club to have." | "But we have to move with the times, and this will be seen widely as a very outdated attitude for a sporting club to have." |