Scottish Parliament suspended as ‘Sturgeon out’ protest sparks chaos inside Holyrood
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The Scottish Parliament has been suspended after an anti-Sturgeon protest caused chaos at Holyrood. MPs had returned to the chamber today for the first time since the festive break. Presiding officer Alison Johnstone announced there would be a “brief suspension” after protesters disrupted the session during First Minister’s Questions.
Shouting could be heard from the public gallery, with protesters directing concerns at the First Minister.
Ms Sturgeon was facing scrutiny over her handling of the NHS crisis, with Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross using the session to raise criticism of “patient-blaming” language over problems in the NHS
This is the second protest to hit Ms Sturgeon in a matter of days.
Yesterday, teachers demonstrated outside the First Minister’s official residence demanding higher wage, as thousands walked out of classrooms across Scotland.
Andrene Bamford, the president of the Scottish teachers’ union, told the crowd the rate of inflation was “still crazy”, adding: “If we don’t get a decent pay settlement our wages will be further eroded.”
She said: “If the Scottish Government say they have no money, well, they need to take their budget back to the drawing board and they need to think again.”
The union boss added: “Here is a message for the Government – don’t resort to Tory tactics of using language that others the unions.”
The Scottish Government dismissed the 10 percent rise demanded by EIS members as “unaffordable”.
Instead, it made an offer which would see most teachers get a 5 percent rise with the lowest paid getting 6.85 percent.
The Sturgeon Out campaign has been protesting against the First Minister’s Gender Recognition Act.
The aim of the legislation is to make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender and get a gender recognition certificate (GRC), which is seen as an integral part of trans inclusion.
But critics say the law undermines sexual equality and poses a risk to women’s safety.
Last month, more than 1,000 Sturgeon Out protesters demonstrated in front of Holyrood to show their opposition to the legislation.
Many of them held placards reading: “Save our single sex spaces” or “Woman is not a costume”.
The aim of the legislation is to make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender and get a gender recognition certificate (GRC), which is seen as an integral part of trans inclusion.
But critics say the law undermines sexual equality and poses a risk to women’s safety.
Last month, more than 1,000 Sturgeon Out protesters demonstrated in front of Holyrood to show their opposition to the legislation.
Many of them held placards reading: “Save our single sex spaces” or “Woman is not a costume”.