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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Paul Hutcheon

SNP MP Joanna Cherry claims Nicola Sturgeon gave her 'no support' after rape threat

An SNP MP has said she received no support “whatsoever” from SNP leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford after receiving rape threats.

Joanna Cherry also claimed the manner of her sacking from a front bench post at Westminster was like being "cancelled".

Cherry, first elected in 2015, has clashed with the SNP leadership over the strategy for independence and trans rights.

She is opposed to the Scottish Government’s reforms to make it easier to legally change gender, believing it poses a risk to women’s rights.

She has also been open about receiving a rape threat and abuse on social media.

In an interview with comedian Matt Forde at an Edinburgh Fringe Festival event, she was asked whether Sturgeon or SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford had ever picked up the phone to her after the abuse:

“No, never. I'm sorry to have to say that.”

She said: “As a result of the 'no debate' culture, we have created an area in our political discourse where it's alright for women to be threatened, have death threats and rape threats, and people won't defend them."

She added: “There has been support from many members of the party, and many other parliamentarians, but there's been no support whatsoever from the leadership.

“I don't understand why - you would have to ask them.”

On her sacking by Blackford as justice and home affairs spokeswoman, she said: “What I find most upsetting about it was the unfairness of my treatment. You know, as I say, other colleagues had openly disagreed with the party and not been demoted. So that was upsetting.

“And also the fact that there was no acknowledgement of any of the work I'd done over the last few years... It was like I had been cancelled, just erased from SNP history.”

The SNP has been contacted.

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