This quick snap poll of 453 followers of the Talking-up Scotland twitter feed suggests that only around 1 in 5 Scots is actually that bothered about the gender recognition reforms currently fuelling an ill-informed media storm in support of the the Scottish Conservatives.
This poll has its weaknesses but it, nevertheless, suggests a very different picture from that in the MSM where supposedly most Scots oppose the reforms.
So 453 votes, only 100 times better than a Reporting Scotland vox pops in Prince Street?
A self-selecting poll of a type often ridiculed here but, actually maybe better than you think given the greater likelihood of those angry and against anything to respond?
A clear, non-leading question making this better than the WoS poll in that respect?
The poll closed quickly to prevent angry opponents of the reforms getting all their pals to distort the results?
Talking-up Scotland 
Ach well John, it’ll all be water under the bridge when Union Jack, Secretary of State Against Scotland steps in, as threatened, to prevent Royal Assent to the Act, despite passing vote in Holyrood
LikeLiked by 1 person
This Bill was always going to be contentious particularly amongst some minorities and feminest groups but the Scot Government should be applauded for pushing this thro’ especially when the UK Tory Governments shied away from doing so.. As you would expect with Westminster mired in 19th century mentality the English media simply cannot stand progressive policies which makes the Tories look even more inept.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Many of the people who oppose it oppose all trans rights, and it has nothing to do with the GRR bill itself. Many others have believed the vast amount of misinformation that GCs have spread about the bill, believing that it somehow gives more access to single-sex spaces, which it does not. And no, most feminists most certainly do NOT oppose trans rights, only a very narrow but very noisy group of so-called feminists. I say so-called because no real feminist would ally with groups who oppose abortion rights and use biology to limit women’s choices as these groups of GCs have.
LikeLiked by 3 people
O/T I see the BBC News website now has an article in its Scotland section entitled: ‘Scottish government to ‘impose’ pay deal on nurses’. Notably, amongst expressions of outrage from the RCM’s leadership, it also includes this: ‘Wilma Brown from Unison, who, along with Unite had accepted the last offer, told BBC Scotland the implementation of the pay deal was “FULLY AND GRATEFULLY RECEIVED” and was overdue.’ (my emphasis)
But the article also includes this: ‘SCOTTISH LABOUR CALLED ON MR YOUSAF TO RESIGN. Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “I asked Humza Yousaf yesterday whether he would refrain from imposing a pay settlement on the NHS and he failed to answer. “We now know why. It is clear that his plan was to impose this rejected pay deal all along.”
On 23 December 2022, Unison Wales sent an open letter to the Labour FM in Wales: ‘WE ARE NOW CALLING ON YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW YOUR COUNTERPARTS IN SCOTLAND AND USE DEVOLVED POWERS TO PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL SOLUTION to the issue of low pay in the health service which is having devastating consequences for an already exhausted workforce.
‘UNISON has had formal and informal meetings with health minister Eluned Morgan with ABSOLUTELY NO MOVEMENT ON PAY and this is what needs urgent action if we are to avoid an escalation of industrial action across the Welsh health service in the new year.’
And from Unite on 12 December 2022 – ‘SCOTLAND NHS DEAL SHOWS ENGLAND STRIKES CAN BE AVOIDED IF MINISTERS JOIN TALKS’
‘Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The deal in Scotland shows that Unite’s members are clearly prepared to negotiate on pay. The only thing standing in the way of this happening is THE INTRANSIGENCE OF THE WESTMINSTER GOVERNMENT TO JOIN PAY NEGOTIATIONS AND OFFER A BETTER DEAL.
“If the position remains the same, ministers must explain why NHS workers in England don’t deserve the same pay increase as their colleagues in Scotland.”
And again from Unite, on 22 December 2022 – ‘Welsh Ambulance Service workers vote for strike action to save NHS’
‘Around 1,000 Welsh Ambulance Service workers will stage industrial action, their union, Unite, announced today (Thursday). The workers, including paramedics, EMTs and emergency call handling staff, voted by 88 per cent to strike. Unite will announce strike dates early in the new year.
‘Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s Ambulance service MEMBERS IN WALES ARE STRIKING BECAUSE THEY SEE FIRST-HAND EVERY DAY HOW THE NHS IS COLLAPSING. They are dedicated life-saving professionals and are taking this step because they know THE NHS ITSELF NEEDS SAVING.
“THE WELSH GOVERNMENT MUST PUT A BETTER OFFER ON THE TABLE TO HELP RESOLVE THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CRISIS THAT IS CRIPPLING THE SERVICE. But it is also incumbent on THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT IN WESTMINSTER, WHO HOLD THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY for the years of destruction inflicted on the NHS, to meet with heath unions and urgently address staffing and pay levels.”
Then from RCN Wales on 23 December 2022 – ‘RCN Wales Continue Plans for MORE STRIKE ACTION IN THE NEW YEAR DUE TO LACK OF ENGAGEMENT FROM WELSH GOVERNMENT’
‘Helen Whyley, Director of RCN Wales, said: ‘I am bitterly disappointed to be going into the Christmas holidays without any resolution to this. TWO DAYS OF STRIKE ACTION DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE MOVED OUR WELSH GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AT ALL who CONTINUE TO HIDE BEHIND A FUNDING ROW RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON RESOLVING A WELSH DISPUTE IMPACTING ON WELSH PEOPLE.’
‘THE CURRENT SITUATION WITHIN NHS WALES IS DEEPLY CONCERNING WITH SIGNIFICANT RISKS to patients from insufficient nursing staff and a struggling burnt out workforce. The RCN believe that the public deserves better and the way to retain and attract nursing staff is to reward them appropriately for the safety critical work that they do. The nursing workforce must be supported to provide high quality patient care, and this must start with a significant and substantial pay rise.’
‘I have written to the Welsh Government this week requesting a way forward to avoid more strike action in Wales. IF THE WELSH GOVERNMENT DOES NOT MAKE A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO RESOLVING THIS DISPUTE NEW STRIKE DAYS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEW YEAR.”
From RCM Wales on 13 December, 2022 – ‘Midwives in Wales vote yes to industrial action’
‘Julie Richards, Director for Wales at the RCM, said “Midwives and MSWs in Wales are exhausted. THE DISAPPOINTING AND UNACCEPTABLE 4% PAY OFFER SIMPLY REINFORCED THEIR FEELINGS OF BEING OVERLOOKED AND UNDERVALUED. Taking industrial action is always a last resort, and the decision taken by our members today shows just how DESPERATE THEY ARE FOR POLICY MAKERS TO LISTEN. THE WELSH GOVERNMENT MUST NOW DO SO to get maternity services in Wales back on track and to stop the inevitable exodus of demoralised staff.”
I become more and more astonished at the blatant, candidly jaw-dropping, level of hypocrisy being displayed by the Labour leadership in Scotland over the present public sector disputes given the wider UK context and especially given the stance that the Labour government in Wales judges it is necessary to take! I hope the base ethics of Labour’s leadership in Scotland gets exposed to the wider voting public.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I can remember being in unisex toilets in France almost 60 years ago.
No problems.
This is mainly about Scotland not being allowed to make decisions without England’s consent.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The thing is that the readers of this blog are all independence supporters so the 30% who are against the Bill may, just may have a effect on SNP support. Many women are concerned.
LikeLike
Only a few hundred read the blog but more than 8 000 follow the tweets and I get quite a few opposed to the GRA there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You only need ask why this amendment to existing GRA legislation has generated nothing even close to the publicity afforded it in Scotland, and only after Westminster shelved it in 2020.
I’m not knocking those who have legitimate concerns, merely questioning how those concerns arose and asking why NONE in the countries who have put these amendments into Law did ?
This two year long propaganda campaign sought to develop and exploit cracks in the Indy movement, the good ole “pitchforks and torches” game in all it’s glory, made in London.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hello Bob. The U.K. Gov shelved it because they had three studies done in 2020 that showed that there are serious risk problems particularly in prisons for real women. You can find these in Hansard. The prison one was published in the November.
Although many countries have GR most have more checks and balances than Scotgov proposed so it is not comparing like with like.
LikeLike
My apologies but thought I’d responded earlier – Are you seriously suggesting the “had enough of experts” Tories actually took on board studies in the last 3 years when they have consistently ignored everything including an English majority in favour of reversing Brexit and Scots having the right to hold IR2 over the last 5 ?
Bridge for sale ?
No offence intended Andy but perhaps you might ask yourself what informed your opinion as there is a gulf between it and reality – I looked at the Romanian enactment of these amendments to the GRA and they are not so adrift from the SG version as you appear to believe, and believe me, the Romanians are sticklers for joined up rules…
LikeLike