SNP frontrunner Humza Yousaf says transgender double rapist Isla Bryson is ‘not a genuine trans woman’ and ‘is trying to play the system’ – after outcry over initially sending sex predator to all-women’s prison
- Mr Yousaf claimed Bryson ‘is trying to play the system’ with their gender identity
- But said Bryson’s actions shouldn’t ‘roll back’ rights of law abiding trans people
SNP frontrunner Humza Yousaf says that transgender double rapist Isla Bryson is ‘not a genuine trans woman’ and ‘is trying to play the system’.
Bryson caused controversy earlier this year after being sent to Scotland’s only female-only prisoner after being convicted of two rapes.
The prisoner – who transitioned to a woman after charges were brought – was eventually moved after public outcry.
Mr Yousaf’s remarks come after questions of gender identity haunted the final weeks of Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership as she repeatedly stumbled over questions about the double rapist’s sex.
SNP frontrunner Humza Yousaf (pictured today) says that transgender double rapist Isla Bryson is ‘not a genuine trans woman’ and ‘is trying to play the system’
Bryson (pictured in February) caused controversy earlier this year after being sent to Scotland’s only female-only prisoner after being convicted of two rapes. The prisoner was eventually moved after public outcry
Asked during the BBC’s SNP leadership debate by former minister Ash Regan about the issue, Mr Yousaf said today: ‘Isla Bryson should not be in a woman’s prison.
‘Isla Bryson is a rapist who’s completely at it, I don’t think they’re a genuine trans woman, I think they’re trying to play the system.
The Health Secretary added: ‘What we should never do is because we have a despicable individual like Isla Bryson who plays the system, we shouldn’t roll back the rights of 99.9 per cent of trans women who commit no crime whatsoever.’
Mr Yousaf has previously said he ‘believes in progression’ and supports issues of equality, ‘including issues that affect our LGBT community.’
Seen as the continuity candidate to succeed Ms Sturgeon, Mr Yousaf last month backed her decision to defend the plan to allow people to ‘self-identify’ as the opposite sex.
He said the Scottish government should go to court to challenge Downing Street’s unprecedented decision to veto the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
‘Whether you disagree with the GRR Bill or not, whether you agree with the substance or not is in some respects immaterial,’ he said in an interview with Channel 4 News.
‘It’s the principle of, do we cave in the first time the UK Government wields the red pin. And if we cave in, what kind of message does that send to the UK Government?’
Mr Yousaf’s remarks come after questions of gender identity haunted the final weeks of Nicola Sturgeon’s (pictured yesterday) leadership as she repeatedly stumbled over questions about the double rapist’s sex
Asked during the BBC’s SNP leadership debate by former minister Ash Regan (right) about the issue, Mr Yousaf (left) said today: ‘Isla Bryson should not be in a woman’s prison.’
Mr Yousaf’s comments on the BBC come after rival Kate Forbes last night said she agreed with ‘brave’ JK Rowling on transgender rights.
In what again became a bad-tempered TV debate between her and fellow candidates Mr Yousaf and Ash Regan, Ms Forbes faced close scrutiny of her socially conservative views.
Ms Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, had previously criticised by a fellow SNP member for referring to transgender rapist Isla Bryson as a man.
But last night, in the third televised clash of the SNP leadership campaign, the 32-year-old also admitted she would have voted against gay marriage and branded pre-marital sex ‘wrong’.
But, attempting to continue her recovery from those early woes tonight, Ms Forbes insisted she did not ‘disapprove’ of unmarried couples and gay married couples.
Ms Fobes, the Finance Secretary, branded conversion therapy ‘abhorrent’ – although stopped short of saying she would ban the practice entirely.
She also took a swipe at Mr Yousaf – a close ally of Ms Sturgeon – by insisting that ‘continuity won’t cut it’ – as she claimed she presented a ‘fresh vision’ for the party.
Mr Yousaf’s comments on BBC today come after rival Kate Forbes last night said she agreed with ‘brave’ JK Rowling on transgender rights during the third televised clash of the SNP leadership campaign. Pictured yesterday left to right: Ash Regan, Ms Forbes and Mr Yousaf
But Mr Yousaf hit back that he wanted to ‘build on that winning formula’ put in place by Ms Sturgeon, the outgoing SNP leader.
Similarly, during the debate, both Ms Forbes and Ms Regan described Ms Rowling – the Harry Potter author and a leading critic of the Scottish Government’s gender identity reforms – as ‘brave’ for speaking out on the issue.
Mr Yousaf said he would ‘disagree with her vehemently on the issue of transgender rights’.
But despite the bitter exchanges between the three rivals, there was agreement among all of them that they would demand an independence referendum as the price of SNP support for a Labour government at Westminster.
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