Anti-abortion group start Lent protests near Glasgow hospital
Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who drew up the law, said the coming weeks would be a "real test" for the new legislation.
The group is planning to hold "vigils" on Hardgate Road, across from the hospital until 13 April, the Sunday before Easter.The area has been a frequent target for anti-abortion activists. Six people, including a woman with a baby, gathered from around 08:00 and began quietly praying.Some held signs that said "Choose life" and "Help is out there".An area of Hardgate Road, opposite the entrance to the hospital's maternity unit, has previously been a focal point for protests.But the 40 Days For Life group gathered further away from the building on Shieldhall Road.
Meanwhile, Mackay said she would work with Police Scotland and health providers to ensure the new laws are followed.The MSP added no-one should be subjected to "intimidation and harassment".Mackay said: "For far too long women have had to endure totally unacceptable abuse and obstruction outside hospitals. "It should never have happened, and my Act to stop it received the overwhelming support of our parliament."I urge anyone else who is planning to protest to look at the testimonies from people who have had to endure gauntlets of graphic banners and ask themselves if they really want to be responsible for causing even more pain and upset."
JD Vance comments
Mary Gilroy, who is organising the 40 Days For Life protests in Glasgow, previously pledged its members would not to breach the law during Lent.The period of six weeks from Ash Wednesday - 40 days not including Sundays - leading up to Easter is regarded as the most important festival in the Christian calendar.The group describes itself as "an internationally co-ordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses".It was founded in Texas but holds demonstrations outside abortion clinics around the world.Last month US Vice-President JD Vance was accused of "spreading misinformation" about buffer zones at abortion clinics in Scotland.In a speech at the Munich Security Conference Vance claimed people who live within safe access zones had been sent letters by the Scottish government warning them about praying within their homes.Mackay said Vance's claims were "nonsense" and added that private prayer at home had never been impacted.A Scottish government spokesperson said no letters had been sent out saying people could not pray in their homes, and only "intentional or reckless behaviour" was covered by the new law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
David Lammy and JD Vance bonded over ‘dysfunctional' childhoods – and a Diet Coke
David Lammy has spoken of his friendship with the US vice-president, JD Vance, as the pair can relate over their 'dysfunctional' working-class childhoods. In a series of interviews with the Guardian, conducted over several weeks, the foreign secretary opened up about a 'wonderful hour and a half' spent with Vance over drinks at the US embassy in Italy in May alongside the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner. Lammy said he had been to mass at Vance's home and counted him as a 'friend', saying the vice-president 'relates' to him over their shared background. 'I remember being at the inauguration of the new pope in Rome with Angela Rayner and JD Vance,' he said: 'I don't think JD and Angela will mind me saying that they were having a couple of drinks … I really wanted a glass [of rosé] but instead I had a Diet Coke.' The foreign secretary said they were all 'not just working-class politicians, but people with dysfunctional childhoods'. 'I had this great sense that JD completely relates to me and he completely relates to Angela. So it was a wonderful hour and a half,' he said. In his interview, Lammy spoke of feeling guilty over the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, highly awkward first meeting with Donald Trump and Vance in the Oval Office, where the men berated him over the war. 'If I'm being honest, I felt, arrghhh!' Lammy said. 'Why hadn't I done more to support our Ukrainian colleagues in preparation for their meeting?… I was being a bit hard on myself. But I still felt guilty.' The foreign secretary also touched on his discomfort over Keir Starmer's 'island of strangers' speech about immigration, which drew criticism that the prime minister was echoing the rightwing politician Enoch Powell. 'I think the use of language was poor,' he says. 'Poor choice. And if someone had shown me the speech, I would've said, 'Take that out'.' On the subject of Gaza, Lammy spoke of his 'days of deep frustration, deep sadness' over the war with Israel. He said things were 'desperate for people on the ground, desperate for the hostages in Gaza', that the world was 'desperate for a ceasefire, for the suffering to come to an end'. He also said he '100 per cent' wanted to go to Gaza 'as soon as I can get in'. Speaking before the government decided to move on to a path to recognise Palestine as an independent state, the foreign secretary described it as a 'card you can only play once'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion In the interview, the Lammy looked back over his career and his difficult childhood, including the effect of his father – an alcoholic who was violent towards his mother, and who left for the US. 'My father didn't come back. Psychologically that is devastating. There must have been a bit of me that blamed myself. I question whether he did, in fact, love me.' His father later died of throat cancer without his son seeing him again. Lammy said he could not emotionally handle the idea of it at the time, but added: 'I'm quite a forgiving person, my nature is wanting to build bridges, to reach out. It's why I think I'm not bad at this role.' He described his sense of purpose as foreign secretary, saying: 'This is the first time in my life where I do not have impostor syndrome. I genuinely have a sense of being in the right place at the right time for this job.'
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Operation Broadcroft: Police Scotland refuse to reveal costs
He said the investigation was looking into claims that a 'very, very senior civil servant - Mr James Hynd - gave a false statement on oath at the inquiry'. When the former First Minister and Alba Party leader died suddenly, aged 69, in North Macedonia in October last year it was not clear if and for how long the police investigation into the matter would continue. But The Herald revealed in June that the investigation was still ongoing. READ MORE: Following our report, this newspaper asked the force under freedom of information legislation details on the cost of the inquiry, how many officers were involved and the date the inquiry began. However, our request for the cost and the number of officers working on the inquiry was refused by Police Scotland on the grounds the force does not have the information "In response to your request, I can advise you that the information sought is not held by Police Scotland and section 17 of the Act therefore applies," Police Scotland told The Herald. "By way of explanation, the total costs relating to any investigation, both relating to the investigation itself and the number of hours involved, are difficult to quantify as the nature of policing means that officers are deployed to wherever their services are most required. "Furthermore, the number of officers required throughout an investigation will fluctuate and officers involved in a particular investigation, or multiple investigations, can be redeployed to other duties at any time, dependant on their skillsets." It continued: "Police Scotland may keep limited records for investigations, which record overtime costs and non-pay costs. These costs do not provide an accurate reflection of the total number of hours spent on an investigation nor do they provide, for the reasons stated above, an accurate cost for an investigation. "The costs do not include, for example, officer hours where that officer would have been on duty anyway and as such are not recorded as a specific expense to a particular investigation." Alex Salmond giving evidence to the Holyrood inquiry into how the Scottish Government handled complaints against him. (Image: PA) The force also refused to release the date the inquiry started on the basis this information could "prejudice" the probe. Outlining its decision, the force's freedom of information officer told The Herald: "The information sought is held by Police Scotland, but I am refusing to provide it in terms of section 16(1) of the Act on the basis that the section 34(1)(b) – Investigations, exemption applies. "Information is considered exempt from disclosure if it has at any time been held by Police Scotland for the purposes of an investigation which may lead to a decision to make a report to the Procurator Fiscal to enable it to be determined whether criminal proceedings should be instituted. The matter you are enquiring about is subject to a live police enquiry. "This exemption is non-absolute and requires the application of the public interest test. I do appreciate that there is a degree of interest in the release of the information you have requested and that to do so would help inform public debate on policing in Scotland. "However, it is essential that any release of information does not interfere or prejudice enquiries or risk such enquiries in the future. To do so would put the enquiries at risk and to do so would be vastly against the public interest. The balance lies in withholding the information requested at this time." The Herald is seeking a review of the decision. READ MORE: [[Alba]] leader Kenny MacAskill, a former [[Scottish Government]] justice secretary, criticised Police Scotland for withholding the information from [[The Herald]]. "Utterly ridiculous and deeply disturbing," he said before making reference to other inquiries around how complaints against Mr Salmond were handled. Last year the Information Commissioner criticised the [[Scottish Government]] relating to a legal battle around freedom of information requests about Irish lawyer James Hamilton's report into Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Hamilton's inquiry was into whether Ms Sturgeon broke the ministerial code when her predecessor Mr Salmond was being investigated for sexual harassment by the Scottish Government. She was not found to have breached the code. "The investigations relating to the Holyrood inquiry and Alex Salmond grow murkier by the hour. "We've a government which was found to have been acting illegally by the court and which has had to be brought to heel by the information commissioner. "Whether it's the redaction of documents or the denial of legitimate information the tale of obfuscation and what appears a cover up continues unabated. "Police Scotland is though independent and separate from government abd openness and transparency are required in this of all cases." Police Scotland has previously given details about the cost of Operation Branchform, the inquiry into the SNP's finances, including when the investigation was ongoing. Operation Branchform ended in March with the inquiry costing the force £2.2million. The police investigation was launched in July 2021 following a number of complaints and concluded in March this year. During that 44 month period [[Nicola Sturgeon]] resigned as First Minister and [[SNP]] leader in February 2023 and was succeeded by Humza Yousaf. In April that year, Ms Sturgeon's husband and former [[SNP]] Chief Executive Peter Murrell was arrested. He was later charged by Police Scotland and appeared in court in March this year on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date has yet been given for his second court appearance. During Operation Branchform Ms Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer. However the police investigations against both ended in March with no charges or further action against either. Operation Broadcroft is into evidence given by Mr Hynd, who was the Scottish Government's head of cabinet, parliament and governance at the time, into the Holyrood inquiry in 2020 which probed how the Scottish Government handled complaints of sexual harassment made against Mr Salmond. The former First Minister was later cleared of all of the charges against him in a separate criminal trial. The Court of Session was told in August 2024 that detectives were probing evidence given to the Scottish Parliament inquiry by Mr Hynd, The probe by a committee of MSPs - formally called the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints - concluded in March 2021 that the government investigation into Mr Salmond was 'seriously flawed". During his evidence to the parliamentary inquiry Mr Salmond alleged that there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures, including Ms Sturgeon to imprison him. Ms Sturgeon has strongly denied the claim. The Court of Session action was launched by Mr Salmond in November 2023 to seek "significant damages" and compensation for loss of earnings reportedly worth £3 million. The sum would be in addition to the £500,000 that Mr Salmond was awarded in legal costs after a judge said in 2019 that the government investigation into the allegations against him had been 'unlawful in respect that they were procedurally unfair" and also "tainted with apparent bias". Mr Salmond's lawyer Gordon Dangerfield told the Court of Session last August that the Police Scotland investigation into Mr Hynd was called Operation Broadcroft and was being headed by a senior detective. Mr Dangerfield told the court hearing at the time: 'I can advise that the ongoing Police Scotland investigation is named Operation Broadcroft. It is led by senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Graham Lannigan." Mr Hynd was responsible for drawing up the government's policy on the handling of complaints involving former and current ministers - the policy under which Mr Salmond was investigated. The Scottish Government has previously said would not comment on a live police investigation or on individual staffing matters. Police Scotland was approached for comment.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hulk Hogan was left 'devastated' by final WWE appearance six months before his death, manager reveals
Hulk Hogan 's fall from grace within the wrestling world left him devastated, his former manager has revealed. Just six months before his death, Hogan attempted to make a triumphant return to the WWE at Monday Night Raw back in January. However, the wrestling icon's appearance did not go to plan. Instead, Hogan was met with resounding boos from the 17,000-plus fans in Los Angeles. Hogan died at the age of 71 last week after suffering a heart attack at his home in Clearwater, Florida. It was also revealed that the wrestling icon had been privately battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Following his death, his longtime manager and close friend, Jimmy Hart, has revealed how the ferocious booing at Hogan's final WWE appearance left the wrestler heartbroken. 'That devastated him,' Hart said of the jeers on 'Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw', while noting the political undertones. 'That always bothered him, it sure did.' Before his death, Hogan endorsed Trump's presidential candidacy at the 2024 GOP convention and later spoke in favor of his fellow reality TV star at a Madison Square Garden rally in October. He even pitched himself to be Trump's Vice President before JD Vance was chosen. In some corners, his act had already grow tired, especially after Hogan was recorded using racist slurs in 2015. Hogan was infamously taped criticizing his daughter's African-American boyfriend in 2007, and while the recording didn't surface until 2015, his use of the N-word continues to tarnish his legacy in some circles. Hart claimed he tried to warn Hogan that January's appearance would take place in California, a traditionally Democratic state but it fell on deaf ears. 'I said, 'Hulk, it's simple. Blue state, red state. Trump, Vance. I mean, really?'' said Hart, who noted Hogan received cheers the next week during an event in Texas. Hart said he began to notice the hostile atmosphere the moment Hogan stepped off the plane in Los Angeles, claiming fans began to almost immediately taunt the wrestling legend with jobes about Trump and Vance. Hogan had made his appearance primarily to promote his beverage 'Real American Beer'. WWE announced a multi-year partnership with Hogan's beer the day before RAW and the logo was plastered on the ring mat during the show. Yet, when Hogan came out to speak to the crowd, it didn't take long for them to let him know exactly how they felt. The Hulkster tried to tell the WWE audience they were the best tag team partner he ever had. Their response was to boo him out of the building. However, the reaction to the wrestling titan has changed in the week since his death. The WWE paid tribute to Hogan before both last Friday's SmackDown and Monday Night Raw earlier this week.
