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The Scottish Conservatives have expressed frustration after their request for a statement on public sector workers’ access to single-sex spaces was denied by ministers at Holyrood. The Tories had called for clarity on the issue following an ongoing employment tribunal involving NHS Fife nurse Sandie Peggie, who was suspended after a complaint regarding sharing a changing room with a transgender colleague. Despite their calls, Parliamentary business minister Jamie Hepburn cited lack of time, short notice, and active legal proceedings as reasons for not providing a statement.
Ms. Peggie has alleged that she faced unlawful harassment by being required to share a changing room with a transgender woman at Victoria Hospital. The claim is disputed by the health board and the individual in question, Dr. Beth Upton. Efforts by the Scottish Conservatives to bring attention to the issue through various parliamentary channels were met with rejection, sparking a heated exchange between Conservative MSPs and the presiding officer Alison Johnstone. The attempt to amend the parliamentary schedule to include a government statement on the matter was also unsuccessful.
Minister Jamie Hepburn defended the government’s decision by highlighting the busy parliamentary schedule and the need to adhere to sub judice rules regarding ongoing legal proceedings. He emphasized the importance of not risking prejudice or unfairness to the parties involved in the tribunal. Hepburn’s stance was challenged by Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser, who argued that a ministerial statement would not pose a risk and pressed for clarity on the issue. The government later reiterated its support for provisions under the Equality Act 2010, emphasizing the need for compliance with the law.
Following the rejection of their amendment, Conservative MSPs sought guidance on how to address the issue of single-sex spaces in the public sector. Presiding officer Alison Johnstone maintained her decision-making process and refused to provide specific reasons for selection decisions. The tension between MSPs and the presiding officer escalated, with challenges to authority and opportunities for raising the issue being debated. Despite the disagreement, the issue of public sector workers’ access to single-sex spaces remains unresolved until the conclusion of the employment tribunal in July
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