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| Scottish Conservative leader will not attend anti far right summit | Scottish Conservative leader will not attend anti far right summit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Russell Findlay said the "anti-far right" summit hosted by John Swinney was "not necessary" | |
| The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has said he will not attend an "anti-right wing" summit being held by the first minister next week. | |
| Russell Findlay claimed the event was "not required" and accused John Swinney of using the meeting to "deflect from the SNP's dismal record". | Russell Findlay claimed the event was "not required" and accused John Swinney of using the meeting to "deflect from the SNP's dismal record". |
| Swinney announced plans to hold the forum at Bute House in February, saying parties had to unite to "lock out" the far right from Scottish politics. | Swinney announced plans to hold the forum at Bute House in February, saying parties had to unite to "lock out" the far right from Scottish politics. |
| However, in a letter to the first minister, Findlay described the event as a "talking shop," adding Swinney should instead rule out bringing back gender reforms in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling earlier this week. | However, in a letter to the first minister, Findlay described the event as a "talking shop," adding Swinney should instead rule out bringing back gender reforms in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling earlier this week. |
| Swinney said he wanted to bring together political and civic leaders including trade unions, churches and charities to agree a "common approach" on Scottish values. | Swinney said he wanted to bring together political and civic leaders including trade unions, churches and charities to agree a "common approach" on Scottish values. |
| He said "storm clouds were gathering" over the threat posed by a rise in support for right wing politicians across Europe, and has included Reform UK in that description. | |
| Reform - which denies it is a far right party - won 7% of the vote in Scotland in last summer's general election. | |
| But Findlay said there was no need for a summit to agree on a joint position that "racist hatred should have no place in Scotland". | But Findlay said there was no need for a summit to agree on a joint position that "racist hatred should have no place in Scotland". |
| In his letter, Findlay said the independence movement was "responsible for sowing division while seeking to blame others for your government's many failings". | In his letter, Findlay said the independence movement was "responsible for sowing division while seeking to blame others for your government's many failings". |
| He wrote: "It is disappointing that you have failed to address my reasonable requests, which are to stop seeking to split up our country, stop pushing gender self-ID policies and give a commitment to being transparent and truthful with the Scottish public. | He wrote: "It is disappointing that you have failed to address my reasonable requests, which are to stop seeking to split up our country, stop pushing gender self-ID policies and give a commitment to being transparent and truthful with the Scottish public. |
| "If you wish to unite the country you should begin by addressing these concerns, which the majority of people across Scotland share. | "If you wish to unite the country you should begin by addressing these concerns, which the majority of people across Scotland share. |
| "As you are not prepared to do that, I am therefore left to conclude that this summit is designed to deflect attention from your party's dismal record." | "As you are not prepared to do that, I am therefore left to conclude that this summit is designed to deflect attention from your party's dismal record." |
| 'Put politics aside' | 'Put politics aside' |
| On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act "refer to a biological woman and biological sex". | On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act "refer to a biological woman and biological sex". |
| The ruling means people who are born male no longer have access to female-only facilities and services. | The ruling means people who are born male no longer have access to female-only facilities and services. |
| Swinney said he accepted the judgement despite a bill in 2022 that would have made it easier for people to change their legally recognised sex initially being passed by MSPs. | Swinney said he accepted the judgement despite a bill in 2022 that would have made it easier for people to change their legally recognised sex initially being passed by MSPs. |
| It was later blocked by the UK government. | It was later blocked by the UK government. |
| Swinney said he hoped all parties would be able to come together to unite against the far right at the Bute House summit | Swinney said he hoped all parties would be able to come together to unite against the far right at the Bute House summit |
| Swinney accused Findlay of "searching for reasons not to take part" in the summit and urged him to join the forum. | Swinney accused Findlay of "searching for reasons not to take part" in the summit and urged him to join the forum. |
| "The gathering is an opportunity for Scotland to unite behind the common principle that far-right and racist hatred should have no place in Scotland and to agree a common approach to asserting Scotland's shared values and creating a cohesive society where everyone feels at home," he said. | "The gathering is an opportunity for Scotland to unite behind the common principle that far-right and racist hatred should have no place in Scotland and to agree a common approach to asserting Scotland's shared values and creating a cohesive society where everyone feels at home," he said. |
| "I would hope that all parties in parliament would be able to come together around this basic premise." | "I would hope that all parties in parliament would be able to come together around this basic premise." |
| He added: "I hope that you will reflect, put politics aside and agree to take part." | He added: "I hope that you will reflect, put politics aside and agree to take part." |