Latest news with #JacksonCarlaw
Scotsman
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Holyrood body admits causing 'upset' amid calls to U-turn on its trans toilet policy
This comes as pressure grows for the Scottish Government to update its official guidance on single-sex spaces. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Holyrood body admits people will be 'upset' and 'anxious' about its ban on trans women using the parliament's female toilets. Last month the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) ruled that single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms must be interpreted by biological sex only, meaning trans people would not be allowed to use the facilities of their acquired gender. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This comes after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex. The Scottish Parliament. Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has now called for the SPCB to rescind this decision. He said: 'In previous discussions in this chamber and in a letter to me, the SPCB says it remains committed to an inclusive environment and its intention is that everyone should feel welcome and included in Holyrood. 'But this demonstrates the opposite - this makes trans people feel significantly less welcome at parliament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The decision is described as one that brings confidence and dignity to everyone, but it will exclude and segregate trans people in the heart of Scotland's democracy.' He added the toilet ban is already having a 'negative impact' on trans and gender non-conforming members of staff. Mr Harvie added: 'Surely it is time for the SPCB to think again and rescind this unclear, unfair position?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jackson Carlaw MSP, who was speaking on behalf of the SPCB, said the body cannot debate the rights and wrongs of the Supreme Court judgement. He said: 'It is our job to ensure we are implementing the law as communicated to us. 'Let me acknowledge on behalf of the body that for some this has proved upsetting and has caused anxiety.' Mr Carlaw added: 'It is our responsibility as a service provider and employer to recognise the judgement had immediate legal effect. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We took urgent steps to review this for facilities in Holyrood in line with the Equality and Human Rights Commission statement on the Equality Act 2010 and our need to comply with it.' Jackson Carlaw MSP. Pam Gosal MSP warned the parliament would have risked using taxpayers' cash to foot expensive legal bills if it had not made this decision. She said: 'Let's be clear, we are talking about the UK Supreme Court. 'The law is the law, and nobody is above it.' The Scottish Government has come under increasing pressure to update its guidance to public bodies on single-sex spaces following the court judgement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier this week the campaign group Sex Matters sent a legal letter to Scottish ministers threatening to take them back to court if it does not update its guidance. The government says it is waiting for official guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission before updating its guidance. Earlier this week Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth also said she was not concerned about schools having to make their own decisions on single-sex spaces.
Daily Record
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scots primary school head under fire after branding Union flag 'offensive or sectarian'
The letter which leaked on social media showed the head raising concerns about the UK's national flag being displayed at an event for parents and guardians. A major row has erupted at a Scots primary school after its headteacher branded the Union flag"potentially offensive or sectarian" i n a letter to parents. The letter which leaked on social media showed the head raising concerns about the UK's national flag being displayed at an event for parents and guardians. As the Scottish Daily Express reports, the incident unfolded at Cross Arthurlie Primary School in East Renfrewshire with the correspondence signed by the headteacher Fiona MacDonald. The official school communication has now gone viral sparking a response from Scots Tory politicians who branded the letter"daft". The criticism has forced council chiefs into an apology over the letter, with education bosses sorry for any "offence and upset" that has been caused. In the letter, the head told families of P7 leavers that the use of a Union flag in images may have been a "mistake." Writing. "Thank you for coming along last night to make the P7 leavers a special event in the life of the school. The children looked fantastic and had a great time. 'Unfortunately the use of the Union flag with staff images on caused some upset at the beginning of the evening. As a school we promote inclusion and acceptance, actively working against potentially offensive or sectarian messaging. Although we recognise this was not the intent we are concerned that others within or beyond the school community may consider that this is something we would encourage. 'I hope this helps everyone understand where mistakes have been made and we can move on enjoying the rest of the end of term celebrations.' East Renfrewshire Council confirmed that the letter is genuine. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Former Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw, who represents Eastwood in East Renfrewshire, blasted the comments as "deeply offensive." He said: "Let me be clear – to equate the Union Flag with sectarianism is totally unacceptable and deeply offensive to people both locally and across Scotland. 'Having spoken with a senior official at @EastRenCouncil this morning, I expect an urgent response, resolution, and retraction. As a start, the council must issue an unconditional apology. Our national flag is not up for debate – it is a symbol of our tradition, unity as a nation and hope for so many.' A East Renfrewshire spokesperson said: 'It was not the school's intention to imply the Union flag is sectarian and both the Head Teacher and the council apologises for any offence and upset that has been caused to pupils, parents and carers and the wider community. 'All educational establishments in East Renfrewshire should be spaces that are focused on learning, unity, and pride in a diverse British society. We expect our schools to foster an ethos of respect for diverse perspectives and national identity.'
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Council apologises after primary school union flag row
A council has apologised after a primary school wrote to parents saying the appearance of union flags at a leavers' event could have been seen as "offensive or sectarian".The head teacher of Cross Arthurlie Primary School in Barrhead said flags featuring pictures of staff, which had been brought to the event by primary 7 pupils, "caused some upset".Senior Scottish Conservatives criticised the letter on social media and demanded an apology. East Renfrewshire Council later said it was not the "school's intention to imply the union flag is sectarian". Head teacher Fiona MacDonald wrote to parents after the leavers' event on letter said "the use of the union flag with staff images on had caused considerable upset at the beginning of the night".It added the school worked against "potentially offensive or sectarian messaging".Ms MacDonald said: "Although we recognise this was not the intent we are concerned that others within or beyond the school community may consider that is something we would encourage." The headteacher explained she had spoken to the children to "explain why it wasn't a good idea" to use images without permission and to explain "the symbolism and association of flags and symbols to different groups of people". Conservative politicians from East Renfrewshire, including former Scottish party leader Jackson Carlaw, had demanded an apology for the implication in the letter that the union flag itself was Conservative leader Russell Findlay posted: "Our country's flag is not 'offensive or sectarian'."A council spokesperson said: "It was not the school's intention to imply the union flag is sectarian and both the head teacher and the council apologises for any offence and upset that has been caused to pupils, parents and carers and the wider community."All educational establishments in East Renfrewshire should be spaces that are focused on learning, unity, and pride in a diverse British society."We expect our schools to foster an ethos of respect for diverse perspectives and national identity."
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Scots headteacher sparks outrage after suggesting union flag is ‘sectarian' in parents' letter
Politicians have blasted the letter as 'unacceptable' UNION FLACK Scots headteacher sparks outrage after suggesting union flag is 'sectarian' in parents' letter Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HEADTEACHER sparked outrage after suggesting the union flag could be viewed as 'offensive' and 'sectarian' in a letter to primary school parents. The principal of Cross Arthurlie Primary School in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, wrote the all-round message after an apparently 'upsetting' incident at a P7 leavers event earlier this month. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The letter sent out to parents at Cross Arthurlie Primary School in Barrhead 3 Scottish Tory leader branded it "ludicrous" Credit: Alamy 3 Jackson Carlaw MSP for Eastwood has called for a "resolution and retraction" Credit: Alamy It is understood this involved a small group of parents and pupils bringing two flags with teachers' faces superimposed onto them. In a response dated June 12 on official council-branded paper, the head detailed how 'the use of the union flag with staff images on caused some upset'. She said as a result pupils had been schooled on 'the symbolism and association of flags and symbols' following the incident. The letter goes on to state the school is 'actively working against potentially offensive or sectarian messaging' and the children's 'actions were contrary to the school values of respect and kindness'. But politicians have blasted the letter as 'unacceptable' and called for the local authority to issue an apology. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay branded the letter 'ludicrous' and 'embarrassing'. He said: 'For a school to tell parents that our country's flag is 'offensive or sectarian' is ludicrous and embarrassing. 'This is what happens when the SNP spends years pushing its petty nationalist agenda in our schools, councils and other public bodies. 'After 18 years of the SNP trashing Scotland's once world-leading schools, you might think they'd be focused on improving educational standards. 'East Renfrewshire Council should apologise for this daft letter.' MSP for Eastwood and former leader of the Scottish Conservatives also chimed in. Action For Scotland burn Union Jack flag On X he wrote: 'I am both angry and concerned to learn that an official letter (now confirmed as genuine) issued by the head teacher of a primary school in East Renfrewshire has suggested the use of the Union Flag amounts to 'sectarian messaging'. 'Let me be clear - to equate the Union Flag with sectarianism is totally unacceptable and deeply offensive to people both locally and across Scotland. "Having spoken with a senior official at '@EastRenCouncil this morning, I expect an urgent response, resolution and retraction. 'As a start, the council must issue an unconditional apology. Our national flag is not up for debate - it is a symbol of our tradition, unity as a nation and hope for so many.' A spokesperson for East Renfrewshire Council said: 'It was not the school's intention to imply the Union flag is sectarian and both the Head Teacher and the council apologises for any offence and upset that has been caused to pupils, parents and carers and the wider community. 'All educational establishments in East Renfrewshire should be spaces that are focused on learning, unity, and pride in a diverse British society. 'We expect our schools to foster an ethos of respect for diverse perspectives and national identity.'
STV News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Council apologises after letter to parents 'implied Union Jack flag was sectarian'
A local authority has apologised for any 'offence and upset' caused by a letter sent to parents and carers which appeared to insinuate the Union Jack flag was 'sectarian'. East Renfrewshire Council has come under fire from MSPs over the letter, which was sent to families following an incident at a P7 leavers event last Thursday. The letter, sent by the headteacher of Cross Arthurlie Primary School in Barrhead, highlighted the 'use of the union flag with staff images' which 'caused some upset at the beginning of the evening'. 'As a school, we promote inclusion and acceptance, actively working against potentially offensive or sectarian messaging,' the letter read. 'Although we recognise this was not the intent, we are concerned that others within or beyond the school community may consider that this is something we would encourage.' The headteacher added pupils were told that using images without permission 'was not a good idea', and stated that their actions 'were contrary to the school values of respect and kindness'. The letter has prompted a backlash from MSPs, who slammed the headteacher's insinuation that the Union Jack flag was 'offensive'. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay branded the letter 'daft' and urged East Renfrewshire Council to apologise. He said: 'For a school to tell parents that our country's flag is 'offensive or sectarian' is ludicrous and embarrassing. 'This is what happens when the SNP spends years pushing its petty nationalist agenda in our schools, councils and other public bodies.' This is what happens when the SNP's toxic nationalism infects schools and councils. 👇 Our country's flag 🇬🇧 is NOT 'offensive or sectarian'. — Russell Findlay MSP (@RussellFindlay1) June 16, 2025 East Renfrewshire Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw said he expected an 'urgent response, resolution, and retraction' from the council. In a post on X, Carlaw said: 'I am both angry and concerned to learn that an official letter (now confirmed as genuine) issued by the head teacher of a primary school in East Renfrewshire has suggested the use of the Union Flag amounts to 'sectarian messaging'. 'Let me be clear – to equate the Union Flag with sectarianism is totally unacceptable and deeply offensive to people both locally and across Scotland.' He added: 'Our national flag is not up for debate – it is a symbol of our tradition, unity as a nation and hope for so many.' I am both angry and concerned to learn that an official letter (now confirmed as genuine) issued by the head teacher of a primary school in East Renfrewshire has suggested the use of the Union Flag amounts to "sectarian messaging". Let me be clear – to equate the Union Flag with… — Jackson Carlaw (@Jackson_Carlaw) June 16, 2025 East Renfrewshire Council has since apologised for the contents of the letter. A spokesperson said: 'It was not the school's intention to imply the Union flag is sectarian and both the headteacher and the council apologises for any offence and upset that has been caused to pupils, parents and carers and the wider community. 'All educational establishments in East Renfrewshire should be spaces that are focused on learning, unity, and pride in a diverse British society. We expect our schools to foster an ethos of respect for diverse perspectives and national identity.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
