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NEWS

UK & IRELAND

Rape crisis centre launches trans-exclusionary group after legal settlement [BBC]

  • A Brighton-based rape crisis charity has agreed to run a new “biological women only” support group following legal action from a woman who objected to trans women attending. Survivors’ Network, which had previously defended inclusive women-only sessions, reached a settlement with claimant “Sarah”.

    The new pilot scheme will exclude trans women, trans men and non-binary people, while the existing inclusive group will continue.

    The move clearly undermines trans survivors’ access to vital support, creating a segregated model based on nonsensical biological definitions rather than reality.

FOI reveals EHRC bias towards gender critical lobbyists [Queer AF]

  • A freedom of information request by the Trans Advocacy and Complaints Collective (TACC) uncovered over 100 pages of emails showing close links between the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and gender critical groups, including Sex Matters and Transgender Trend. The emails reveal private meetings with the EHRC Chair and CEO, preferential consultation access, and incorporation of lobbyists’ proposals into official guidance. One meeting was kept secret to avoid pre-election scrutiny.

Sandy Peggie drops racial slurs during her own employment tribunal

  • Recalled to refute allegations she made racist comments, Sandie Peggie said, under oath, “I had my first job in a shop called P*ki Ali’s and I worked there for a year and had a good relationship with Ali. I socialised in a pub, The Country Inn in Kirkcaldy, and it was owned at the time by a P*ki called Jav, that was just how we described [them].


    “Pakistani is the politically correct word, but I grew up using P*ki and they were quite happy at the time.”

    Asked about mocking Dr Upton’s appearance, Peggie said, “It’s just dark humour.” At Monday’s hearing, fellow nurse, Fiona Wishart, had said that Peggie had made “derogatory” remarks about Dr Upton, calling her as a “weirdo” and a “freak”, and referred to her as it as “it”.

    You can read more in THE PAPERS below.

POLITICS

Labour silent after backing Sandie Peggie [The National]

  • Scottish Labour has gone quiet over its support for NHS nurse Sandie Peggie after her racist and transphobic comments were revealed in her employment tribunal. Peggie, suspended for allegedly bullying trans doctor Beth Upton, had previously received strong backing from senior Labour figures.

    Despite earlier public support, Labour MPs and MSPs have refused to comment on the latest turn of events. You can see the full article below in THE PAPERS.

MEDIA

Katie Neeves shortlisted again for major diversity award [Hinckley Times]

Katie Neeves shortlisted again for major diversity award Trans activist Katie Neeves, founder of Cool2BTrans, has been shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards’ Positive Role Model: LGBT prize for the second year running. Neeves, from Stoney Stanton, said her work aims to support trans people and challenge misinformation: “My aim is to reach out to trans people who may be struggling, to show them it’s okay to be trans, because it really is okay to be trans. In fact, it’s more than okay.” She criticised recent anti-trans legislation and misinformation, saying it makes her advocacy “more important than ever”. Winners will be announced on 19 September in Liverpool.

  • Katie Neeves, founder of Cool2BTrans, has been shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards’ Positive Role Model: LGBT prize for the second year running. Neeves said her work aims to support trans people and challenge misinformation: “My aim is to reach out to trans people who may be struggling, to show them it’s okay to be trans, because it really is okay to be trans. In fact, it’s more than okay.”


    Winners will be announced on 19 September in Liverpool.

THE PAPERS

  • The most notable aspect of the papers today is their striking lack of interest in the closing days of Sandie Peggie’s employment tribunal. Peggie faced accusations of using racist and transphobic language, sharing racist “jokes”, and even using racist language while giving evidence.

    Until this week, newspapers had been breathless in their coverage, relentlessly pursuing Dr Upton, whose only “offence” is being trans. This was Peggie’s tribunal, not Dr Upton’s, yet that is not where the majority of the focus fell. The Telegraph, Mail and Times all ignored yesterday’s revelations, despite having championed Peggie repeatedly in previous coverage.

    Prominent anti‑trans activists have also refused to condemn Peggie’s comments. Maya Forstater called them “private”, while Sonia Sodha, formerly of the Observer and now with the New European, posted on social media: “Well, having watched the last couple of days of the Peggie v NHS Fife tribunal, I have to say the word “witch hunt” feels more apt than ever. Grim tactics deployed by NHS Fife’s counsel to try and undermine women’s legal rights to female-only changing facilities at work.

    “At times it felt like the KC was implying people who privately share a racist joke, or who are anti-immigration, have no right to hold public-sector jobs even if it doesn’t affect their professional conduct. The purity-test implications of that are pretty extraordinary.”

    The reality is that their latest poster child has proved damaging to their cause, joining a long line of similar examples. The only genuine “witch‑hunt” has been the treatment of Dr Upton, who has faced months of targeted attacks for no reason.

    As Sodha goes on about single-sex spaces, it was also revealed at Peggie’s tribunal that she was already getting changed behind a locked door before Dr Upton started using the changing room.

    Elsewhere, the Scottish papers also seem to have toned down their coverage after coming out swinging yesterday.


    In Northern Ireland, David Thompson and Adam Kula continue their two-cis-het-man crusade against trans people and the queer community in the province. For the third day in a row, they have produced a double-page of hate, reaching for the Peggie tribunal to ensure they filled their spread.

    In case you are wondering, I’m not neglecting Welsh papers, they just never appear in my searches.

News Letter

Nesbitt told MLAs of gender clinic plans The Department of Health has pointed out that minister Mike Nesbitt repeatedly outlined in the assembly his intent to fund a new gender identity service for children. It comes amid growing concern in his own party over a decision to fund the service to the tune of £806,000 – and allow children of any age to attend. The News Letter this week revealed that five-year-olds have been referred to the clinic – something UUP MLA Doug Beattie branded “madness”. A widespread view in the party is that the decision was not in line with party policy – and the Ulster Unionist press office has declined to comment on whether it was or not. However, in response to criticism from MLAs across unionist parties, the Department of Health has pointed out that Mr Nesbitt has – on a number of occasions – made it clear to the assembly that he intended to fund gender identity services. In a written ministerial statement on December 11 2024, the UUP leader said that he was “committed to improving wider gender identity service provision for children, young people and adults in NI” – adding that would “require investment” and that a business case was being considered. He also said he would “prioritise” the services despite financial challenges. In March this year he announced his department had developed “a proposal for a new Lifespan Gender Service” which would reduce waiting times. He said his officials were “considering its contents, including funding requirement, and will shortly provide me with advice for my consideration”. It is not clear when the final decision was made, however it was announced by an LGBTQ+ lobby group last week – and subsequently confirmed by the minister. TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said the timing of the announcement – during recess – denies elected representatives an ability to probe the issue. “Decisions of this magnitude should not be made by stealth. Quite frankly, this policy flies in the face of common sense – particularly in the wake of the Cass Review, which laid bare the insufficient and low-quality evidence base underpinning treatments for gender-related distress in young children,” he said.
Left Page (Page 8) Main Headline: Call to ‘shut down gender clinics not expand them’ Byline: Adam Kula, News Letter. Content: The article covers opposition to the expansion of gender identity services, featuring criticism from gender-critical campaigners who argue such services should be shut down rather than expanded. The focus is on recent funding announcements for gender clinics and the controversy over allowing young children to be referred for transgender healthcare. A large photo of Stephanie Davies-Arai, founder of Transgender Trend, is centred under the headline. She is sitting outdoors wearing a blue cardigan and purple top, looking into the camera with greenery in the background. Sub-article bottom left: Trans doc ‘chromosomally male’, tribunal told This smaller article discusses an employment tribunal involving Sandie Peggie, a nurse, who allegedly referred to transgender medic Dr Beth Upton in discriminatory terms, including a claim about being “chromosomally male”. There is a headshot photograph of Sandie Peggie, smiling and walking outside, wearing a white jacket. Right Page (Page 9) Main Headline: ‘Neutrality’ of Scouts NI in question over Pride Byline: Adam Kula, News Letter. The article questions the stance of Scouts NI over participation in Pride events, debating whether involvement in Pride parades is compatible with the organisation’s stated neutrality. A colour photograph shows people marching in a Pride parade, holding a banner reading “NO GOING BACK” with rainbow flags visible. Bottom Right Section: A red and white advertisement for News Letter subscriptions. It includes instructions in three steps on how to subscribe using vouchers and promises up to 20% savings. There is an image of stacked newspapers and a QR code for scanning. Overall Layout: Three news articles focus on transgender issues and controversy over gender identity services, workplace discrimination, and organisational neutrality on LGBTQ+ topics. The page design features bold headlines, medium-sized photographs, and clear bylines. A subscription advert occupies the bottom right quarter of the spread.

Telegraph

  • Note this sentence – “However, it will not look at NHS gender services for children or adults, or social care services, for which there have been or are separate reviews ongoing.”

Streeting boost for LGBT healthcare Women’s groups protest after minister axed similar key review aimed at improving female care The Daily Telegraph30 Jul 2025By Michael Searles DEPUTY HEALTH EDITOR WES STREETING has ordered an LGBT+ health review despite axing a similar scheme for women. For the first time, the NHS will conduct a six-month investigation of its “unequal” treatment of LGBT+ patients. Recommendations on improving the experiences of people who consider themselves LGBT+ will be made to the Government in December, the health service said. It is likely to ignite further criticism from women, who accused the Health Secretary of “sidelining” them after he removed female health targets in annual NHS planning guidance earlier this year, while also setting up a men’s health strategy. Dame Lesley Regan, the Government’s women’s health ambassador, previously told The Telegraph there was “already a men’s health strategy – it’s called the NHS”. At the same time, charities and Royal Colleges have criticised the Health Secretary’s failure to “reset the women’s health strategy” previously set up by the Conservatives, including through the recent 10-year health plan. Ranee Thakar, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said the plan “falls short in pledging to eliminate the gender health gap that is costing women years of life and good health”. The NHS dropped a number of targets from this year’s guidance, which included removing the requirement for there to be women’s health hubs in all parts of England. The health service said the LGBT review would “build on significant evidence that LGBT+ people have worse access to healthcare, poorer experience and worse health outcomes than the general population”. It will look at the “barriers” in accessing care such as therapy, cancer screening and GP appointments. LGBT people are more likely to have mental health conditions and poor experiences of NHS services, including GPS, according to a recent patient experience survey. The review will focus on the care of people aged 16 and older but consider the experiences of children aged 13 to 15 as well. However, it will not look at NHS gender services for children or adults, or social care services, for which there have been or are separate reviews ongoing. Mr Streeting said: “The NHS is at its best when it serves everyone equally – but evidence shows this hasn’t been happening. “For too many LGBT+ people, accessing quality healthcare remains a challenge, and one often marked by discrimination, misunderstanding, and miseducation. “That’s why I’ve commissioned a comprehensive review into LGBT+ health inequalities – because every patient deserves dignity, respect, and excellent care, regardless of who they are or who they love.” Fiona Mcanena, the director of campaigns at the human rights charity Sex Matters, said: “Looking at the particular healthcare needs of population subgroups is commendable. But nothing useful can emerge if the members have little in common. LGBT+ is not a homogeneous group.”

Daily Mail

  • Have you ever even heard of International Pronoun Day?

International Pronouns Day and other woke staff events that cost trusts £1.8m Daily Mail30 Jul 2025By Harriet Line Deputy Political Editor THE NHS has allowed trusts to spend almost £2million on ‘staff networks’ that have hosted a series of ‘woke’ events over the past two years. Figures reveal the Health Service budgeted more than £1.8million for the internal staff groupings, which are usually linked to race, sexuality, gender, disability or religion. They included a Eurovision Viewing Party at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and an event on ‘Embracing Asexuality’ at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in Essex. Staff also attended a talk on ‘Embracing your Afro/curly hair’ at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and another on ‘International Pronouns Day’ at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust in east London. The NHS insisted many of the events are run at ‘no or very low cost’ but the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) claimed it was ‘astonishing’ to see staff spending their time at such events instead of focusing on frontline care. More than 154 trusts responded to freedom of information requests from the TPA, showing 1,000-plus events were held by staff networks from 2022 to 2024 at 80 trusts. Tory health spokesman Stuart Andrew called the figures ‘alarming’. An NHS spokesman said: ‘Staff networks can play an important role in retaining staff and reducing absenteeism, improving care and savings costs. Many events, including ones highlighted, are run at no or very low cost.’ NHS England describes staff networks as ‘an important mechanism’ to ‘help us to shape our organisational culture to create a fairer and inclusive work environments’.

The Times

Gender drug inquiry into GP practice Sanchez Manning - Social Affairs Correspondent The NHS has begun an investigation into a GP practice that prescribed gender drugs to teenagers after “indications that patient harm may have occurred”. Gender care offered to children and young people by WellBN GP surgery in Brighton will be the focus of a five-week inquiry by NHS England and NHS Sussex. A report by the two authorities said the possible “harm” related to the age of the patients prescribed the crosssex hormones testosterone and oestrogen, which begin the physical process of changing gender, and puberty-suppressing medication. The potential harmful practices were linked to the “apparent absence” of advice from paediatric endocrinologists, who specialise in hormones, and child mental health clinicians with experience of treating complex mental health problems, the report said. Along with establishing what harms may have occurred and whether the clinic has breached the ban on prescribing puberty-blocking drugs to under- 18s, the investigation will consider whether anyone should be referred to the police or professional regulators. The inquiry follows a controversy involving the WellBN GP practice over claims that it had been prescribing feminising and masculinising hormones to 16-year-olds without parental consent. Many of the allegations made by the parents of young patients involved Sam Hall, a transgender GP practising at the surgery, who resigned from his position at the beginning of this month. NHS Sussex said on June 5 that the WellBN practice was no longer prescribing hormone medications to children and young people under 18 with gender dysphoria.

The Scotsman

Peggie names 13 colleagues she says agreed with her in changing room row The Scotsman30 Jul 2025Sarah Ward scotsman.com Nurse Sandie Peggie, seen at the Scottish Parliament, told an employment tribunal her workplace was ‘very toxic’ Sandie Peggie has named 13 colleagues who she alleged disagreed with a decision by NHS Fife to allow a transgender doctor to share a women’s changing room. Ms peggie also told an employment tribunal her workplace was “very toxic”. The nurse was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on Christmas Eve 2023. She was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, and cited concerns about “patient care”. Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination; and victimisation. Yesterday, Ms Peggie was recalled to be questioned about evidence from other witnesses, and she said it made her “very sad” to name colleagues who had allegedly shared her concerns about single-sex changing rooms. Ms Peggie said: “I didn’t want anybody else to be put in the same predicament.” During re-examination by her barrister Naomi Cunningham,ms peggie named a total of 13 NHS Fife workers including receptionists and a consultant –some of whom she had named previously. She also branded her workplace “very toxic”, the tribunal heard. She admitted she had used racial slurs but said she was “brought up like that”, and said it was not a “politically correct way”. Ms Peggie said the reaction from colleagues when she had been suspended was “one of shock, they couldn’t believe what had happened tome ”, and she alleged Dr Upton had complained in a previous placement “because of an elderly patient in their 90s who had called him ‘son'”, the tribunal heard. She said when she asked for a photograph of Dr Upton, inset, using the phrase “that weirdo”, it was a picture from a night out “where he looked like a man in a dress”. Ms Peggie defended her own comments on topics such as flooding in Pakistan, and a comment about putting bacon through the letter box of a mosque, as “dark humour”. She was questioned by Jane Russell KC, representing Dr Upton and NHS Fife, on comments provided by two witnesses as well as comments from a Benidorm group chat of colleagues who went on holiday together. The nurse said: “It was never my intention to off end people outside my group of what I thought was very close friends.” Ms Peggie said she did not make a comment about putting bacon through the letterbox of a mosque, and attributed it to a paramedic, however she said: “I wouldn’t offend any Muslim people by speaking like that in front of them, it’s a comment that’s been made to one person only or between us.” It was put to her that two witnesses who attended her birthday lunch recalled her using “derogatory” terminology to talk about Dr Upton. Ms Peggie said: “The only thing I was discussing at the lunch was how I felt on the changing room, and that was what I was asking people.” The tribunal has been adjourned until September. Article Name:Peggie names 13 colleagues she says agreed with her in changing room row Publication:The Scotsman Author:Sarah Ward scotsman.com Start Page:9 End Page:9
Persecution of nurse shows SNP to be witch burners of today, writes Murdo Fraser ◆ Scottish Government should be prioritising justice for women like Sandie Peggie in the here and now, writes Murdo Fraser The Scotsman30 Jul 2025Murdo Fraser is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid-scotland and Fife While doing some research for the Scottish history podcast which I co-host, called A Thistle With Thorns, I read a newly published academic work on 17th-century Scotland. “The Scottish State and the Experience of Government, c1560-1707, Essays in Honour of Julian Goodare” brings together a collection of contributed pieces looking at the development of Scotland’s institutions of government in the early modern period. Several articles address the phenomenon of Scottish witch hunts in those times. We know that King James VI and I had something of an obsession with witches; an interest which was taken up with enthusiasm by the Kirk and the Scottish authorities. Innocent women (and the victims were usually women) were dragged to the courts for their supposed dealings with the devil, although in practice their lifestyles and beliefs might just have been out of step with societal norms of the time. We might think these episodes of witch hunting simply reflect a superstitious backward period in our nation’s history, but more recent events suggest the judgmental strain amongst Scottish authorities against lone women brave enough to challenge the orthodoxy still exists. I refer, of course, to the case of Sandie Peggie, the Fife nurse of more than 30 years unblemished service, who was suspended by NHS Fife because she had the temerity to object to sharing a changing room with a biologically male trans woman, Dr Beth Upton. I attended the employment tribunal in Dundee last week to better understand for myself the issues at stake. And what I heard that day, and what has been reported in the media, continues to astonish me. What has come out in evidence thus far indicates that, from the very start, those in positions of leadership within NHS Fife were never interested in acting in an evenhanded manner in considering Peggie’s complaints, but rather immediately took Upton’s side. There appears to have been no proper duty of care by NHS Fife towards their nurse employee, or any consideration of her rights. What’s worse, attempts were then made to smear Peggie’s character, by suggesting she was transphobic, homophobic, and even racist. The list of management failures exposed by the tribunal thus far grows ever longer. A lengthy media statement issued by NHS Fife had to be withdrawn and rewritten several times, after the first wording appeared to blame Peggie’s legal team for offensive messages being received by NHS Fife’s staff. They failed to comply with the law and may even be guilty of contempt of court. They should go now We then had an unprecedented intervention by Scotland’s Information Commissioner, David Hamilton, in relation to the health board’s failure to comply with a decision notice around responses to a Freedom of Information request. In a statement, he complained about “the petulant tone of NHS Fife’s latest statement” and went on to warn that he might have to report them to the Court of Session for contempt of court. To have a public body threatened with criminal charges in this way by another public servant is simply astonishing. In the background of all this is the fundamental question of why NHS Fife did not comply with the law in providing single-sex accommodation for staff. The recent decision of the UK Supreme Court made it clear what the law said, but the health board continues to dig a hole for itself in the stance it is taking at the tribunal. And this is after Peggie was cleared of any wrongdoing in an internal disciplinary process. NHS Fife has admitted their legal costs have exceeded £220,000, and the final total is expected to be at least double that. Unlike Peggie, whose legal costs are being funded by supporters, every penny being paid by NHS Fife comes from the pockets of you and me, the Scottish taxpayers. We are paying for the egregious mistakes being made. The positions of NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter and the health board members are now simply untenable. They have presided over a situation where large sums of public money have been wasted in the mistreatment of someone who should have been a valued member of staff. They failed to comply with the law and may even be guilty of contempt of court. They should go now. The other astonishing aspect of this has been the pitiful silence, from Neil Gray, as Health Secretary, and John Swinney as First Minister – the individuals ultimately responsible for the actions of Scotland’s public bodies. If Potter and the Fife NHS Board do not go voluntarily, then Swinney needs to sack them. For too long, failures in Scottish public life have gone unpunished, and the Peggie case is such an extreme example that the Scottish public sector will become a laughing stock if these individuals remain in office. There is a broader issue here for the Scottish public sector, and that is the question of policy capture by extreme trans activists, which led to public bodies accepting gender self-identification in practice even though it had never been put into legislation. Whether it is in the police, the prison service, the NHS or in education, women and girls have had their spaces invaded by biological males whilst those who raised a complaint were bullied and victimised. This has all happened on Swinney’s watch. As Deputy First Minister to Nicola Sturgeon, he was more than happy to see these policies applied. Now, thankfully, this case has exposed the weakness of his position, and his inexcusable failure to put things right. Never mind the Scottish Government making apologies for the witches persecuted 400 years ago, it should be starting today by ensuring brave women like Sandie Peggie get the justice they deserve. Article Name:Persecution of nurse shows SNP to be witch burners of today, writes Murdo Fraser Publication:The Scotsman Author:Murdo Fraser is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid-scotland and Fife Start Page:22 End Page:22

The National

A two-page newspaper spread from The National dated Wednesday, 30 July 2025. The main headline on the left page reads: “Labour silent on support for nurse after racist jokes made public”. Beneath the headline, the byline credits Xander Elliards. The article discusses Scottish Labour politicians remaining silent about their previous support for NHS nurse Sandie Peggie after her racist and transphobic remarks became public during an employment tribunal involving a trans doctor, Beth Upton. The article mentions offensive jokes and comments about Pakistani people and Muslims attributed to Peggie. It notes that Anas Sarwar, Jackie Baillie and others have not responded to requests for comment. There is a quote from Green MSP Patrick Harvie criticising their silence. A prominent photograph features three women standing together, identified in the caption as Labour’s Melanie Ward MP, Claire Baker MSP, and Sandie Peggie. Another small circular image shows Patrick Harvie. On the right-hand page, a second article by Jane McLeod is headlined “Peggie denies mosque comment”. This reports Peggie’s testimony denying that she said Muslim staff should use a mosque for changing, calling the alleged comment “dark humour”. The article recounts her explanation during a tribunal, including her claims of being misinterpreted, her denial of transphobia, and her assertion she did not hold animosity towards trans or Muslim people. She claims that remarks about sharing changing rooms with a trans doctor were taken out of context. The right-hand page also contains a travel insurance advertisement for Staysure, featuring images of European destinations, including a coastal town and the Taj Mahal, with text promoting pre-existing medical condition cover and unlimited emergency medical expenses. The bottom of the left page has a smaller article by Hamish Morrison titled “Sultana reveals her preferred name for new political party with Corbyn” with a small portrait photo of Zarah Sultana.
Labour silent on support for nurse after racist jokes made public The National (Scotland)30 Jul 2025EXCLUSIVE BY XANDER ELLIARDS BY JANE MCLEOD SCOTTISH Labour have fallen completely silent on their support for NHS nurse Sandie Peggie after a series of her racist and transphobic remarks became public. Anas Sarwar, his deputy Jackie Baillie, and other parliamentarians in the group had given their full backing to Peggie amid an ongoing employment tribunal, sparked after the nurse was suspended following allegations of bullying and harassment against trans doctor Beth Upton. Peggie had taken issue with sharing a changing room with Upton at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on Christmas Eve 2023 – and later lodged a complaint against NHS Fife citing harassment related to a protected belief. On Monday, the tribunal heard that Peggie had made a series of transphobic and racist remarks, including referring to Upton as “weirdo”, “freak” and “it”. It further heard that she had shared a series of racist jokes about Pakistani people and Muslims to a group chat, including mocking the victims of floods that killed thousands in 2022, saying the country would look like a “bowl of Coco Pops”. Other so-called jokes shared by Peggie to a group chat said “I bet little Mohammed isn’t having to walk 3 miles to fetch water now” and “the Queen … wanted to mention that Britain has plenty of spare P **** ”. She was also accused of using the racist slur “Ch***”. Scottish Labour politicians including MP Melanie Ward, MSP Claire Baker, and MSP Carol Mochan, had all spoken out in support of Peggie in the seven days before her racist comments were made public. All three failed to respond when approached about Monday’s tribunal hearing. Sarwar and Baillie had told the Holyrood Sources podcast earlier in 2025 that they supported Peggie in the tribunal – at the same time as they U-turned on support for gender reform. Neither their Scottish Labour nor UK Labour responded to repeated requests for comment on Monday’s tribunal hearing. The Scottish Conservatives, who have equally been vocal in their support of Peggie, also failed to respond when approached. Jess O’Thomson, the community outreach lead for Good Law Project, said: “The comments alleged to have been made by Ms Peggie are plainly obscene. “These Labour politicians should consider how they have ended up championing the side of bigotry against vulnerable minorities. It is surely a shameful position they have found themselves in.” Edinburgh-based trans rights activist Tristan Grayford said that Scottish Labour politicians appeared to believe that “being transphobic is more important than standing up to racism”. “I think what we’re seeing from Scottish Labour politicians is atrocious behaviour,” he said. “They’re basically attacking our NHS for daring to have any kind of limits on whether or not someone executive, said: “Obviously, Sex Matters in no way defends the sentiments regarding the victims of the Pakistan floods, or remarks about a mosque attributed to her by a witness. “The content of private group messages, however unpleasant, do not change the facts at the heart of this case: that a female nurse is seeking justice after suffering discrimination and harassment because she didn’t want to share changing facilities with a male doctor.” SANDIE Peggie yesterday named 13 colleagues who she alleged disagreed with a decision by NHS Fife to allow a transgender doctor to share a women’s changing room. Peggie also told an employment tribunal her workplace was “very toxic”. The nurse was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on Christmas Eve 2023. She was placed on special leave after Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, and cited concerns about “patient care”. Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination; and victimisation. Yesterday, Peggie was recalled to be questioned about evidence from other witnesses. She said it made her “very sad” to name colleagues who had allegedly shared her concerns about single-sex changing rooms. “I didn’t want anybody else to be put in the same predicament,” she said. During re-examination by her barrister Naomi Cunningham, Peggie named 13 NHS Fife workers including receptionists and a consultant – some of whom she had named previously. She also branded her workplace “very toxic”, the tribunal heard. She admitted she had used racial slurs but said she was “brought up like that”. She claimed it did not cause offence within the community where she lived, including neighbours from Chinese and Pakistani backgrounds. Peggie said the reaction from colleagues when she had been suspended was “one of shock”. She alleged Upton had complained in a previous placement “because of an elderly patient in their 90s who had called him ‘son’”, the tribunal heard. She said when she asked for a photograph of Upton using the phrase “that weirdo”, it was a picture from a night out “where he looked like a man in a dress”. Peggie defended her own comments on topics such as flooding in Pakistan, and a comment about putting bacon through the letterbox of a mosque, as “dark humour”. She was questioned by Jane Russell KC, representing Upton and NHS Fife, on comments provided by two witnesses as well as comments from a Benidorm group chat of colleagues who went on holiday together. The nurse said: “It was never my intention to offend people outside my group of what I thought was very close friends.” Peggie said she did not make a comment about putting bacon through the letterbox of a mosque, and attributed it to a paramedic. However she said: “I wouldn’t offend any Muslim people by speaking like that in front of them, it’s a comment that’s been made to one person only or between us.” She said she had “a fear of it being built” because she was “frightened of Sharia law”, and had an objection to “illegal immigrants”, the tribunal heard. It was put to Peggie that two witnesses who attended her birthday lunch recalled her using “derogatory” terminology to talk about Dr Upton. Peggie said: “The only thing I was discussing at the lunch was how I felt on the changing room, and that was what I was asking people.” The lawyer said a colleague withdrew from the Benidorm group chat, saying Peggie was “relentless in her nastiness”, and that Upton “does not deserve the hate campaign that is obviously being waged not only by Sandie but other staff as well”, the tribunal heard. Russell said: “You were waging a hate campaign against Dr Upton, weren’t you?” Peggie replied: “No.” Asked if she believed trans people were “pretending” to access single-sex spaces, Peggie said: “I don’t have any bad feelings about trans people, I just don’t believe they should be in the women’s changing room. I still believe a trans woman is a man.” Another message was put to Peggie, where she said “those policies are a ... minefield, been looking at menstrual privacy stuff as well”, the tribunal heard. Russell said: “Was this detail about the menstrual flood a cover to disguise the fact the only reason you went to the changing room was to confront Upton?” Peggie said: “No.” The tribunal was adjourned until September. Article Name:Labour silent on support for nurse after racist jokes made public Publication:The National (Scotland) Author:EXCLUSIVE BY XANDER ELLIARDS BY JANE MCLEOD Start Page:10 End Page:10

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