In a bombshell new political memoir, SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC has lifted the lid on one of the most turbulent periods in Scottish politics, revealing deep internal divisions and bitter power struggles that rocked the nationalist movement.
The Battle Over Gender Reforms
At the heart of the controversy stood the Scottish Government's contentious Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which sparked one of the most intense political firestorms in recent memory. Cherry, a prominent QC and MP for Edinburgh South West, found herself at odds with her own party's leadership over the proposed legislation.
'I was threatened with disciplinary action for speaking out on women's rights,' Cherry reveals, detailing how her concerns about the bill's impact on single-sex spaces put her on a collision course with party hierarchy.
Westminster Intervention and Constitutional Clash
The political drama reached fever pitch when the UK government took the unprecedented step of invoking Section 35 of the Scotland Act to block the legislation. This constitutional nuclear option set the stage for a monumental clash between Holyrood and Westminster.
Cherry provides a gripping insider account of the tense negotiations and legal manoeuvring that followed, offering readers a front-row seat to one of the most significant devolution disputes since the Scottish Parliament's establishment.
Leadership Turmoil and Independence Strategy
The memoir also chronicles the dramatic leadership transition from Nicola Sturgeon to Humza Yousaf, exposing the deep fractures within SNP ranks over the path to Scottish independence. Cherry doesn't hold back in her assessment of the party's strategic direction.
'We cannot simply wish independence into existence,' she argues, calling for a more pragmatic approach to building support across Scottish society.
Free Speech and Cancel Culture
Perhaps most revealing are Cherry's accounts of the intense pressure faced by politicians who deviate from party orthodoxy. She describes a toxic atmosphere where dissent was often met with accusations of bigotry rather than engaged with politically.
'Healthy debate is the lifeblood of democracy,' Cherry contends, warning that suppressing difficult conversations ultimately weakens the progressive cause.
The book serves as both a personal political journey and a stark warning about the state of modern political discourse, offering unique insights into the challenges facing Scottish nationalism and progressive politics more broadly.
