Scottish Labour leadership candidate Michael Marra has revealed his dying mother had to share a hospital ward with a violent man. Marra said it was “unacceptable” his cancer-stricken mum did not have a female-only space in her final days.
Hustings debate
His comments came during the second hustings in the contest to succeed Anas Sarwar. Marra is going head-to-head with fellow MSP Joe Fagan, with the result to be announced next month. At a debate in Edinburgh, the issue of single-sex spaces came up during a question and answer session with Labour members.
Marra and Fagan have previously criticised Scottish Labour’s earlier support for the SNP Government’s gender self-ID plans. Both believe Sarwar was wrong to back legislation that was later blocked in the courts.
Personal experience
Marra, who represents the North East region, said he is “fully supportive” of a Supreme Court ruling that asserted the primacy of biological sex. He also said his mum Eileen, who was a teacher, died of cancer in 2023 but was treated in a ward with a “troubled” and “violent” man.
He said he refused to vote for the SNP’s gender reforms - one of the few Labour MSPs to defy Sarwar - as they would not have protected women’s rights. He also said of his support for sex-based rights: “I have to talk to the truth I see.”
Fagan's response
Fagan, meanwhile, urged “compassion” in the contentious debate on women’s rights and trans rights. He said: “We punch down on no one.”
