The Scottish Conservatives are today calling on the Scottish Greens to immediately suspend the whip from their MSP Q Manivannan after they said there is a “spectrum” of rape offences.
Equalities spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher says the remarks were appalling and it is deeply alarming any elected representative would seek to minimise the seriousness of rape.
The Rape Crisis Alliance have also rejected the suggestion from the Edinburgh and Lothians East MSP that there is a “demonisation” of rape in society.
And Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, also posted on X that rape should never be spoken about in terms of it being a spectrum.
Gallacher says that Scottish Greens co-leaders Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay must now show leadership against one of their MSPs, rather than brushing the remarks under the carpet.
She added that failure to do so would send a “horrendous message” to victims of rape that Q’s comments are acceptable for someone in a position of power to make.
Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher MSP said: “These remarks from an extremist Scottish Greens MSP were appalling and beyond the pale.
“It is deeply alarming that anyone, but especially an elected representative, would ever seek to minimise the seriousness of rape and suggest that there is a spectrum of offences.
“Q Manivannan’s comments were so unacceptable that I believe Scottish Greens co-leaders Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay must now remove the whip from them.
“Any failure to do so would send a horrendous message to victims of rape that Q’s comments were in any way appropriate and run the risk of them saying something similar in the Holyrood chamber.
“We are used to extremist MSPs in the Greens making warped comments on a whole range of subjects, but this is a new low. These remarks cannot be brushed under the carpet, and I urge the Scottish Greens to remove the privilege of the whip from Q Manivannan.”
Notes:
The post from Reem Alsalem is here: https://x.com/UNSRVAW/status/2086516360289661089?s=20