As a result of Christine Jardine, a member of the Liberal Democrats, praising Nicola Sturgeon in the debate on transgender inmates in Scotland, there was a heated argument today.
The Scottish First Minister’s decision to request a review of the treatment of transgender inmates was characterized by the Edinburgh West MP as “doing a good thing” in a TV interview.
The lawmaker was rebuffed by TalkTV host Julia Hartley-Brewer, who claimed that it was not a “complex subject.”
In an argument with Ms. Jardine, the presenter said, “You don’t need to perform a risk assessment — just peek down his trousers.”
Due to the situations of Tiffany Scott and Isla Bryson, two transgender inmates, Ms. Sturgeon has been under intense criticism.
Recently, it was revealed that Scott, who had previously been found guilty of stalking a 13-year-old girl before her transformation, was about to be transferred to a facility for women.
Days before, it had been made public that Bryson had been detained in the Cornton Vale women’s jail while awaiting punishment for raping two women when she was a male.
Ms. Sturgeon has been compelled to forbid any newly convicted transgender person with a history of violence against women from being housed in a female jail due to the uproar over the two instances.
The transfer of any transgender prisoner with a history of violence against women from a male to a female jail has also been prohibited by the Scottish government.
These precautions will remain in place up to the conclusion of a “urgent” investigation of the Bryson case and a broader examination of the treatment of transgender inmates.
The move was made by Ms. Sturgeon’s SNP-led government in Edinburgh amid a wider debate over contentious gender identity laws in Scotland.
Despite being approved by the Scottish Parliament last month, they are expected to be vetoed by Westminster.
Women are in women’s prisons, males are in men’s prisons, Ms. Jardine said in reference to the provisions for transgender inmates that the Scottish Government unveiled on Sunday.
Nicola Sturgeon has looked into and asked for a reform of the risk assessment process used for all violent and sexually violent convicts in Scotland.
And I believe it is excellent that she is examining the risk assessment because I am aware that there are legitimate issues that people have that need to be addressed.
Presenter Hartley-Brewer disagreed with the MP’s remarks, saying: “You don’t need to do a risk assessment – just check down his trousers and note that he is a guy and does not share a jail cell with a woman.” It’s not difficult.
You missed the fact that I really claimed Nicola Sturgeon was doing a wonderful thing, Ms. Jardine said in her response.
“I figured you’d think it was the weirdest thing you’d ever heard,” I said.
But Nicola has requested a review of the risk assessment; the risk is what you are referring to.
The danger of housing a transgender lady who is sexually aggressive with other females.
They are looking at the risk assessment, which is what it is. You cannot avoid the reality that they are making an effort to address legitimate issues.
»TalkTV’s Julia Hartley-Brewer clashes with Christine Jardine on trans inmates«