Ash Regan
Independent · Scotland
“To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish Police Authority’s recent quarterly policing performance report showing that sexual crimes have continued to increase, with recorded rape at the highest level since comparable records began, and with domestic abuse also continuing to rise, what its response is to concerns that its e…”
“To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to reduce journey times and congestion for commuters travelling to and from Edinburgh and East Lothian, including measures to progress with the delayed upgrade of Sheriffhall roundabout and to improve transport reliability across the region. (S6O-05677)”
“They seek to define that role by reference to a qualification threshold, which I know that the Government mentioned in earlier stages of the bill’s progression. Amendments 12 and 15 would allow ministers to establish by regulation a licensing scheme for non-healthcare premises.”
“Whatever we think of that, I cannot see it declining over the next few years. New innovations come through every few months, and the number of first-time clients is growing. Therefore, Scotland needs to get this area right. Eighty per cent of the providers in this space are non-medical.”
“The level 7 qualification also required more than a year of structured study covering facial anatomy, complications management, clinical assessment and patient safety. She also maintains level 3 first aid, including anaphylaxis training. She told me, in her own words: “My clinic operates as a fully licensed premises.”
“From the reading that I have done so far on the subject, it appears that the Government does not know how many women, like the constituent I mentioned, it will be putting out of business or out of a job. I wonder whether the minister can cover that issue when she next gets to her feet.”
The complete record
Every one of 169 lines we hold for Ash Regan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 4.
“Last week, I urged the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to revoke the unlawful gender self-identification policy that has put male offenders, including murderers and sexual torturers, in women’s prisons for more than a decade. Teachers are also crying out for lawful guidance to repair a decade of lobby-led ideology. Councils across the country are losing court cases. Female prisoners who are denied justice and their human rights may yet sue. An NHS Fife policy, which has now been exposed at an employment tribunal, is clearly unlawful. How much legal, financial and reputational damage will Scotland stomach before the Government stops dragging its feet? Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government has begun its work following the Supreme Court judgment, as I have said in my answers.”
“I am clear that criminal sexual exploitation is a form of violence against women and girls that should not be tolerated. The Government, like Parliament, will continue to scrutinise the detail of Ms Regan’s bill. Drug Driving (Highlands and Islands) 6.”
“If we are serious about tackling the root cause of male violence against women, we must challenge the demand that fuels it. Does the Government agree that support in this Parliament for my unbuyable bill, which seeks to criminalise the purchase of sex and provide support for those who are exploited in prostitution, is a vital first step in changing societal attitudes by sending the clear message that women and girls are not commodities? Will the Government back that approach? Angela Constance: I am aware that Ms Brown has been engaging very closely with Ms Regan on the matter. I know that Ms Regan will be aware of the work that the Government is currently undertaking to reduce the demand for criminal sexual exploitation.”
“What is the cabinet secretary’s response to calls for a national smartphone ban across all school estates, a single national behaviour standard, clear lawful guidance based on biological sex and safeguarding policies that are no longer dictated by activist-driven disinformation? Jenny Gilruth: A number of points were raised there, and I am conscious of time. On the point about mobile phones, as I referred to in my response to Roz McCall, as cabinet secretary, I do not have the legal power to enforce a national ban on mobile phones. What I can do is set out very clear national guidance—which is what we have done—that tells headteachers that we trust them to enforce bans in their school, as and when they see appropriate. It is good to see that that is already starting to have an impact, including in schools in”
“The First Minister: Throughout this whole discussion, I have made it clear that the rule of law must be the central consideration of the actions of Government, and that is what we will take forward in all our judgments. I am aware of the judicial review decision that the Court of Session announced yesterday in relation to Scottish Borders Council. That judgment does not involve the Government—it involves Scottish Borders Council. However, the Government will consider the issues that arise out of that, as we consider all aspects of the reform of regulation that is required.”
“The Court of Session’s ruling against Scottish Borders Council marks yet another legal failure to uphold long-standing protections for women and children, this time involving a primary school child. It exposes the broader pattern of public bodies disregarding the Equality Act 2010 and other regulations in place since 1967. The undue influence of activist lobby groups such as LGBT Youth Scotland has led to policies breaching single-sex safeguards. All such policies must now be withdrawn. Will public funding finally be withdrawn from organisations that are wrongly advising that gender self-identification is lawful in Scotland when it never has been?”
“We have heard today the concerns about threats and intimidation to the women who took the case, and also threats and intimidation towards the trans and non-binary community. That is why the tone is important—it is important for everybody who is involved in this. As a Government, we have always respected single-sex spaces and respected the exemptions in the Equality Act 2010, and it is important that we move forward on that basis. I can reassure the member that there is not a delay and the work is continuing, but I hope that she would also recognise that the EHRC has an important role to play in this, which is why what it has to say on the matter—both what it may be able to say on Thursday in our initial meeting, and in its guidance that will follow—is so exceptionally important.”
“If I can contradict the cabinet secretary, I would say that there should be no more delay in acting on the judgment, because Scottish women have waited long enough. Shirley-Anne Somerville: I would hope that we could all agree that tone is important in this. I have heard from members today about the fears and concerns of both activists who have taken— Ash Regan: You have been getting it wrong so consistently, and women have been patronised— Shirley-Anne Somerville: I am sorry, Presiding Officer—I am slightly struggling. I was going to say that I am struggling to know whether Ms Regan wants to make an intervention, but I have just remembered that this is a statement. Nevertheless, I am happy to try to answer her questions, if she will let me. I think that it is important that we look at the tone in all of this.”
“We all owe For Women Scotland and the many people who supported them a huge debt of gratitude. One of them is in the public gallery with us today. By contrast, this Parliament and this Government have let the women of Scotland down badly. They lectured us about tone, including again today, and patronised us while, at the same time, giving away women’s hard-won rights. This Parliament and this Government turned away as women’s reputations were being trashed and women were being suspended from or hounded out of their jobs simply for stating that sex is immutable, and they refused to listen when women were being harmed in single-sex spaces, services and sports. Politicians who did not stand up for women should hang their heads in shame. How did this Parliament and this Government get it so wrong and let Scottish women down so badly?”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether its policy position in relation to an independent Scotland seeking to rejoin the European Union includes rejoining the common fisheries policy. (S6O- 04519)”
“More broadly, on the issues that Ms Regan raises about misogyny, some of the issues in our classrooms are overspill issues from broader challenges that we face in relation to the role of women and girls in society. I include in that the role of women and girls in politics, where we see an increase in violent terminology online and in violent communication being directed at female politicians. That is spilling into our classrooms, and we should all be cognisant of that.”
“A culture of disrespect and violence is clearly developing across society—there is almost a dehumanisation of women and girls—so it is no surprise that we are seeing that more and more in our schools. It is clear that some of the Government’s policies and choices, both in wider society and in school grounds, are contributing negatively to promoting that negative culture. Will the Government realise its role and work towards improving the culture so that it upholds women’s boundaries and promotes respect for women and girls? Jenny Gilruth: I am cognisant of my role in that regard, and I have set out the action that the Scottish Government will be taking.”
“I extend the deep condolences of all in the Alba Party to the friends and family of Christina McKelvie at this very sad time. To ask the First Minister, in light of reports of an escalation in gang-related violence in Edinburgh, with recent shootings in Niddrie and West Pilton, what immediate action can be taken to support the emergency services in ensuring the safety and reassurance of communities in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency. (S6F-03970)”
“Those places have positional authority and have a key role in ensuring that safeguarding is embedded and understood. If we are seeking to protect children from criminal exploitation, we must continue that important focus on child safeguarding and put it before any other adult-driven agenda. 13:17”
“However, responses to freedom of information requests have shown that it is working beyond its remit by accessing primary school children and even influencing materials in nursery schools. I ask the Government to respond to that point, if possible, during the minister’s summing-up speech. Dr Cass was clear that affirmation is not a neutral act. However, what has changed to make materials Cass compliant throughout our education system, reflecting the accepted recommendations in Dr Cass’s report? What are the learning objectives and measured outcomes of teaching sex and gender identity to nursery children, many of whom are not even toilet trained? Children look to adults and older peers to make sense of their world. Nurseries and schools are a child’s first communities, independent of their parents and care givers.”
“I will take a minute to explore the mixed messages that we are sending to children and broader society regarding safeguarding, such as the language that is used around children’s sexual activity. The law states that sex with a minor is statutory rape, but how many times do we see headlines discussing the lifestyle choices of abused children? In schools, we ask children under the age of consent about their sexual activity, thereby normalising what is against the sexual offences law that is there to protect children. Furthermore, we publicly fund lobby groups such as LGBT Youth Scotland, which has a remit to provide services to an extensive age range, from 13-year- old children to adults aged 25.”
“As other speakers have said, we must listen to Professor Jay, who has spent many years working to understand the consequences of child exploitation. The recommendations from her reports over several reviews must now be implemented with a sense of urgency. We all have a role in preventing exploitation by ensuring that children are not just rescued from harm but equipped with the skills and support to prevent exploitation from taking place in the first place. Our job as decision makers cannot be to pour support for exploited children into a bucket when the bucket continues to have its safeguarding base completely eroded, because that is self-defeating.”
“I, too, congratulate Michael Matheson on bringing this critical issue to the chamber. I hope that the Government will allocate time for a fuller debate on the topic in the future. Today’s debate should be not a formality but a crucial step in eradicating the criminal exploitation of children and in using our role for their protection. The decisions that are made in the chamber are key to creating an environment where the children of Scotland are free from abuse and protected from exploitation. We cannot explore solutions to tackling any form of child abuse without first acknowledging the elephant in the room, which is the systematic erosion of child safeguarding that has left children vulnerable to exploitation.”
“The Government must get a grip on that outrageous situation and demonstrate that Scotland values and will protect the safety, privacy and dignity of women and girls. Quite frankly, we expect nothing less. 18:01”
“Allowing the introduction of risk by removing the assurance of single-sex spaces is a dereliction of governance and fails women. Data is also critical to good governance, and there are clear obligations on that under the law. The Istanbul convention requires state parties to collect data on all forms of violence against women. As a minimum requirement, recorded data on victims and perpetrators should be disaggregated by sex, age and type of violence, as well as by the relationship of the perpetrator to the victim and the geographical location. Therefore, for hospitals and other public bodies to fail to collect that data on forms of violence against women is a breach of international obligations and a failure by the state with regard to women.”
“Public bodies and the Government appear to think that access to single-sex provision must be decided on an individual case-by-case basis, and that blanket policies that exclude all males from female-only spaces are unlawful. That is wrong. Blanket policies that exclude all males, regardless of how they identify, are lawful, and the fairness of a policy must be assessed not on the fairness of its application to individuals but on the application of the policy. It is critical to understand that sex-based safeguarding is a result of the risk of mixed-sex access in vulnerable situations. The consequence for women arising from the risk of access by any males in female-only spaces—be they prisons, hospital wards, changing rooms or toilets—is that it removes that sex-based safeguarding.”
“The purpose of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 is to ensure the health, safety, welfare, privacy and dignity of employees, and the effect of those regulations is to ensure that employees are provided with legally compliant welfare facilities, including single-sex toilets, changing rooms and washing facilities. The certainty of the protections that are provided by the Health and Safety Executive regulations and the 2010 act cannot be overridden by internal policies, and equality impact assessments are not nice-to-haves. I will bust some myths, given the confusion around the case-by-case approach that the Government seems to be labouring under at the moment.”
“I congratulate Tess White on bringing this important debate to the chamber, and I congratulate the Women’s Rights Network on its report. Observers of proceedings in the chamber and in some of our committees over the past months may conclude that sex realists are from Venus and gender ideologists are from Mars, such is the difference between the two positions, so I seek now to bring some clarity where confusion has been reigning across all levels of the Government and in our public sector. I start with the purpose and effect of the Equality Act 2010. Its purpose is to balance rights across nine protected characteristics, but those rights are not hierarchical, as some people seem to believe that they are. Its effect is to protect individuals from discrimination, harassment and victimisation, based on those protected characteristics.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out in 2024-25 to further the case for Scottish independence. (S6O-04449)”
“Shirley-Anne Somerville: As I have made clear on many occasions, the Scottish Government strongly supports the separate and single-sex exemptions in the Equality Act 2010, which can allow for people to be excluded when that is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. In my original answer, I also mentioned the important guidance published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and the commission’s work to update the statutory code of practice. I look forward to the commission continuing that work and to the publication of that updated code of practice. The Presiding Officer: That concludes topical question time. I will allow a moment or two for those on the front benches to reorganise themselves. Food and Drink Sector”
“With another week comes another egregious breach of the human rights of women and girls, this time impacting on vulnerable children in care and on women on the prison estate, many of whom will have backgrounds involving trauma. Does the Government not understand that promoting illegal and illiterate gender self- identification policies that override and nullify sex- based safeguarding and giving out access-all-area passes is completely unacceptable? When will the Government wake up to its obligations to ensure that public bodies follow the law? Will it ensure safeguarding and that women’s human rights are upheld before the next scandal unfolds, which will probably be next week?”
“However, the Scottish Government is consulting on removing the statutory requirement for equal provision of separate male and female toilets. I come back to the exchange that I had with the First Minister last week. The Government cannot get to its feet, as it has done again today, and say that it is committed to women’s human rights when it is pursuing such policies, which are a breach of women’s human rights.”
“Prisoners must be held on a single-sex basis, which is primarily to prevent psychological harm—that is an important point— and physical harm to women. That is an international minimum standard. I had an exchange with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on that a few months ago. Lorna Slater: Will the member take an intervention? Ash Regan: I will not, just now. I really must state that the Government must reverse the policy that it has just announced of not providing the data on where trans prisoners are being held. Simply taking that approach because something is not politically easy is not a good enough reason to withhold that data from the Parliament and the public. I will move on to the issue of toilets in schools. There is, of course, a law that requires school toilets to be single sex—for obvious reasons.”
“Does she support that proposal? Ash Regan: I do—I support the notion of third spaces. Some members do not understand that single-sex spaces are not single-sex spaces if anyone can self-identify into them. Women’s human rights are protected under international law through, for example, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Istanbul convention. Dr O’Brien states in her letter that there is “no legal basis for the view that CEDAW extends in the scope of its protection to biological males. If it did, CEDAW would be deprived of its central purpose”. There are a number of areas across Scotland where women’s rights are not being upheld. I will go through a couple of them. Prisons are an obvious example.”
“Whether he does or does not accept it, that is the reality of what is happening across Scotland. Either he does not know what is happening, and my characterisation is correct and he is out of touch, or he does know and he is being disingenuous. My question was based on a letter that had, the previous day, been sent to the First Minister by Claire O’Brien, who is a member of the Scottish Human Rights Commission. It sets out clearly human rights breaches and the corresponding international obligations that apply in those cases. Mercedes Villalba: Ash Regan referred to a number of today’s speeches that she said were good—one of which was Murdo Fraser’s. Murdo Fraser proposed that transgender people be asked to use a new alternative third space, rather than using the single-sex space that aligns to their gender.”
“My first observation is that the Scottish Government should have brought this debate in Government time. The lack of time that the Parliament has had to ask questions and to debate the issues is beginning to make the Parliament look less relevant to the public. We really should be striving to avoid that. This is an important debate, and there have been some very thoughtful speeches from across the chamber—in particular, those from Murdo Fraser, Claire Baker and Pauline McNeill. Last week, I asked the First Minister a question about the state-sanctioned human rights abuses that women are facing across Scotland. Mercedes Villalba: Will the member take an intervention? Ash Regan: I will come back to the member in a moment. Some people thought that that was hyperbole, and the First Minister said that he did not accept the charge.”
“That underpins the policy agenda of my Government and it will underpin my conduct as First Minister. Drug Driving 5.”
“Despite the First Minister’s warm words during the answer to the question, I feel that he is woefully out of touch on the situation of women’s rights across Scotland. Therefore, it is utterly impossible to accelerate action towards gender equality when women’s human rights are under attack. The Scottish Government must now apologise for its role in that and break from those state- sanctioned abuses. Will the First Minister make a clear commitment today to uphold the internationally protected human rights of women and girls in Scotland? The First Minister: I will not accept the charge—I reject it entirely—of state-sanctioned abuses. I will not accept that charge from Ash Regan in any way, shape or form. I have put on the record my absolute commitment to the protection of women and girls in our society.”
“Jenny Gilruth: I agree that having a mobile phone-free learning environment can have educational benefits, but I remind Ms Regan, as I have reminded Ms Gosal, that the Government cannot unilaterally ban mobile phones. The guidance that we published in August goes as far as we are able to at the current time. If Ms Regan would like to correspond with me on the issue, about which she feels passionately, I am more than happy to write to her or meet her. Dyslexia Support (Schools) 2.”
“In the light of the remarkable improvements at Berwickshire high school, where banning mobile phones in all school buildings has led to rising attainment, better behaviour and a significant reduction in bullying, does the minister not agree that mobile-free learning environments have clear educational benefits? I believe—and I think that many across the chamber agree— The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call the cabinet secretary. Ash Regan: —that it should be the national policy— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary. Ash Regan: —on mobile phones. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ash Regan, please resume your seat. I make the same point to you as I made to Ms Gosal: when I have called somebody else to speak, you need to resume your seat.”
“Each budget is a step forward on the road to independence. Each pound invested in our communities and every measure that is designed to protect our people provides proof that Scotland can govern itself effectively and more compassionately than Westminster ever would. 17:19”
“Westminster Exchequers cannot continue the exploitation of Scotland’s resources. They must, instead, start directly benefiting our people and businesses. With bigger thinking, we can push devolution to its limits, exposing the walls that stifle Scotland’s ambition. Hunger must never be a barrier to learning. Today, we are one step closer to eradicating that barrier, but we must continue to strive to fulfil the Government’s election promise to primary school children in the current parliamentary session. Glasgow City Council’s announcement about joining Inverclyde Council in funding universal school meals in primary schools is welcome and it should drive other councils to put politics aside and find solutions for every school child to have the nourishment that they need to grow, learn and thrive.”
“The Scottish budget is a testament to what constructive politics can achieve and what productive opposition delivers. For Alba, this year was the first time that we were a participant in the process, and it delivered tangible benefits for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable—pensioners and children—by negotiating from a point of principle. Protecting the most vulnerable in the face of the brutal decisions made by the UK Labour Government is not just an economic choice, it is a moral imperative. Alba’s persistence has secured mitigations of enhanced heating support for pensioners this winter, in addition to the winter fuel payment for all pensioners next winter. However, until fuel poverty is consigned to the history books of our energy- abundant nation, we will not have done enough.”
“The Presiding Officer: Members, let us ensure that we do not shout over one another.”
“A lack of clarity and, I have to say, a lack of understanding by the Government of the law has left working women in Scotland in the absolutely ridiculous position of having legally provided single-sex spaces open to anyone who identifies into them. The minister has repeatedly said that she expects public bodies to uphold the law, but I am not hearing what the Government is doing about it. Perhaps I can make a suggestion: the Government could get the situation under control by making the upholding of public sector duties a condition of Government funding. Will she commit to that? Shirley-Anne Somerville: I go back to the point that the Government expects all public bodies to respect, obey and comply with the law and to have that set out in their procedures. Ash Regan: That is a no, then.”
“Almost one in three working women in Scotland are employed in the public sector—many in health and social care. The Government has a duty to ensure that all policies of publicly funded bodies uphold legal and regulatory protections. Will the Government make a clear statement that the provision of same-sex spaces for women is a legal obligation and that gender self-identification is not the law in Scotland? Kaukab Stewart: I restate that the Equality Act 2010 allows for separate and single-sex spaces when they are “a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.””
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how it can improve financial literacy levels among children, in light of reports that it is a key driver of inequality, which affects attainment and perpetuates the cycle of generational poverty. (S6O-04341)”
“I have already met the petitioners to discuss the issue; I am looking into their calls and concerns, and I will update accordingly following that. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I apologise to members whom I could not call, as we have to move on to the next item of business. Powers of the Scottish Parliament”
“The oversight board’s third report confirms that there have been systemic failures in child safeguarding, but I am afraid that I am not picking up a sense that there is any recognition of that or of the accountability that is needed from the Government in driving change forward. In the light of the calls in petition PE1979 for an independent inquiry into the mishandling of child protection and the establishment of a national whistleblowing officer for education and children’s services, will the Government commit to ensuring that whistleblowers are properly protected and that public bodies are held accountable for safeguarding failures and not left to mark their own homework? Natalie Don-Innes: I appreciate that that is a very sensitive issue, which I believe that the member has written to me about previously.”
“We could be discussing other important issues of strong public interest in the chamber today, such as Government-funded bodies acting beyond the law and NHS board accountability. I hope that the Parliament and the Scottish Government are listening to that point. 17:08”
“They now face higher costs, possible job losses and service closures. If employers are forced to cut jobs or reduce hours, women, who are more likely to be working part time or in low-paid roles, might well suffer first. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the STUC and 50 other organisations have warned the UK Government that the decision risks Scotland’s vital services. The Parliament has already debated the ENIC hike and there is largely consensus, even from some in Labour, who might now be pondering the benefit of independence from their Westminster Government’s chaotic decisions. The UK Government is acting in an economically illiterate manner. This tax on jobs is anti-growth and it should be dropped.”
“The UK Government’s decision to raise employer national insurance contributions will have devastating consequences for Scotland’s businesses, charities and public services. The not- for-profit Thistle Foundation, which does critical work in my constituency to support thousands of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, has called the ENICs hike a “catastrophic blow”, with the impact on it leaving an unfunded financial gap of £292,000. High-volume, low-profit employers are appalled that Scotland’s block grant is being used to offset short-sighted policy making from London. Women dominate Scotland’s workforce in sectors that are being hit hardest by the increased costs—health, social care, retail, hospitality and the third sector— and many of those industries are already struggling with financial pressures.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding Ineos proceeding with the closure of Scotland’s only refinery at Grangemouth, in light of the UK Government’s reported £600 million loan to the company for a project in Belgium. (S6O-04310)”
“However, it causes harm to people of all ages, and the people who are most likely to fall for misinformation and conspiracy theories are not sitting in school—they are far older than that, and we, as adults, need to face up to that. However, there are also positives from social media for young people, in particular for isolated young people, who can find a community that they would not otherwise have found. I know that that is the experience of a lot of LGBT young people in particular. In closing, all that I would say is that what is essential here is that we build community and create belonging. Young people deserve that, and they will respond with respect to it. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We have no time in hand. Martin Whitfield has up to four minutes. 15:44”
“It would be wrong to suggest that all incidents of violence in schools are simply because of mental ill health, but there is clearly a link between those two issues, and so that support is absolutely essential. On the issue of phones in schools, I would absolutely be in favour of an outright ban on phones in classrooms, but I am uncomfortable with the idea of a complete ban on having them on school grounds, because of the issues that some members have mentioned, such as the fact that one of the reasons why a lot of young people have a phone, particularly at a younger age, is to ensure their safety when they are getting to and from school. In practice, if phones are banned from school grounds, that would prevent them from having their phone on that journey. It is true that social media causes harm to young people.”