Scottish Greens ‘prioritising gender ideology over protecting children’

The Scottish Greens have been accused of prioritising ideology over protecting children after the party again refused to endorse an expert report into gender healthcare.

Patrick Harvie, who until last month was a Scottish government minister, claimed that a Holyrood motion welcoming the Cass review and recognising it as a “valid scientific document” was not “supportable” by his party.

The Green co-leader also promised that his party would “oppose the toxic culture war” even if the Greens were “left alone in Scottish politics” in standing up for transgender rights.

All other parties, including the SNP, endorsed Hilary Cass’s report at Holyrood. However, all seven Green MSPs voted against the motion, with Mr Harvie claiming that transgender people were having their “very existence refuted”.

Dr Cass, who gave evidence at Holyrood this week, warned that gender health care for young people had been built on “shaky foundations”.

Her findings have already led to the suspension of puberty blockers and hormones for under 18s in Scotland, a decision which has been opposed by trans rights activists in Scotland.

However, Mr Harvie told MSPs that a “wave of transphobia” was sweeping the UK.

He added: “That prejudice is all too prevalent in the media and in politics, and it is being stirred up quite deliberately at the very top of the UK government.”

Senior SNP sources have said Mr Harvie’s earlier response to the Cass review, in which he refused to accept it as a valid piece of scientific research in a BBC interview, hastened the demise of his coalition pact with the SNP.

Brian Whittle, a Tory MSP, asked Mr Harvie whether he would now seek to listen to “alternative experts” on climate change after he refused to accept the findings of Dr Cass, a widely respected consultant paediatrician.

“You don’t get to choose your experts just to fit your ideology,” Mr Whittle said. “Especially when it’s the health of children at stake.

“Those of us with children and grandchildren recognise the turmoil of their journey through puberty towards adulthood. They certainly don’t need the dangerous views of people like Patrick Harvie being foisted upon them.”

Jenni Minto, the SNP health minister, said a report by Scotland’s chief medical officer on the implications of the Cass review would be ready by the end of June.

Ms Minto said Dr Cass is a “senior and well-respected clinician” and her review is a “scientific and evidence-based document”.

A Tory motion backing the Cass review was amended by Labour and the SNP and passed by 113 votes to seven.