Nicola Sturgeon facing 'media feeding frenzy', warns SNP president

Writing in his weekly National column, the former constitution secretary said much of the commentary around transgender prisoners isn’t about individual policies – arguing it is largely populated by “venomous” attacks on the First Minister.

A a major media row erupted in recent weeks over the decision to move double-rapist Isla Bryson, who identifies as a woman, to women’s prison Cornton Vale, albeit in a segregated unit away from other prisoners.

It came weeks after the passing of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which aimed to make it easier for people to legally change their gender but was blocked by the UK Government.

Bryson was moved to a male prison on January 26, with a pause later put on the movement of trans prisoners with a history of violence to the female estate pending a wider review on the handling of trans prisoners.

Media commentators have focused on Sturgeon’s decision not to call Bryson a man or a woman, simply a “rapist”, amid the furore.

With a poll showing a decline in Sturgeon’s popularity and independence support, former FM Alex Salmond accused the party of having disrupted the movement towards an independent Scotland for the sake of “daft ideology”.

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The row, which has seen calls for Sturgeon’s resignation from the right and gender-critical activists, comes amid disagreements in the SNP over how to proceed with the de facto independence referendum.

But in his column, Russell called for party unity and condemned those “demonising” the SNP’s leadership.

Referring to various suggestions for how to secure independence – from Holyrood to Westminster elections or alternative plans such as those floated by SNP MP Stewart McDonald – Russell said all views are welcome because they make a more democratic Scotland.

“That is of course why they are being opposed tooth and nail in what has been a Unionist-inspired media-feeding frenzy, targeted at Nicola Sturgeon, with the aim of decapitating the party, demonising its leadership, derailing our discussion and delegitimising what we seek to achieve,” he wrote.

“Strength in politics comes from unity based on mutual respect and shared goals. Weaken that and you fatally weaken the ability to achieve the societal changes that are so clearly needed.”

Russell said he came to close to resigning twice during his time as a minister, while facing the “overwhelming debilitating pressure” of a media storm.

“Neither of those very low points were however half as bad as the current attacks on Scotland’s First Minister,” he went on.

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“What we are seeing now is not about the rights and wrongs of any individual policy,” Russell said. “It is increasingly about venomous, personalised and at times ridiculous attacks on a decisive, principled and talented woman who has strong public opinions but who values and defends her private space.

“Someone who works tirelessly for her fellow citizens but who chooses to socialise and be strengthened from within a small trusted circle and who communicates with great skill but who is also understandably frustrated by deliberate hostility and misrepresentation – and is not afraid to show it.”

The former minister told members to come together to deliver on independence, and warned that “if they come for one now, later they will come for us all”.

You can read Michael Russell's full column in The National on Saturday.