Joanna Cherry sacked from SNP frontbench

The SNP has sacked Joanna Cherry as its Westminster spokesperson for home affairs.

© Joanna Cherry has been sackd from the SNP’s Westminster frontbench

The Westminster group of SNP MPs held an emergency meeting this morning, The Scotsman understands, and Ms Cherry, MP for Edinburgh South West since the 2015 General Election, was removed from her frontbench role.

The move comes after a week of intense internal strife within the SNP which saw many members quit over an on-going row over a conflict between women’s rights and the extension of rights for trans people.

Ms Cherry has been an outspoken critic of the decision by the Scottish Government to reform the Gender Recognition Act which would allow the self-declaration of a change of gender, rather than a medical diagnosis of dysphoria, and the potential impact on women’s services and spaces, including prisons.

In a tweet she said: “Despite hard work, results & a strong reputation I’ve been sacked today from @theSNP front bench. My constituents & fellow party members who gave me a resounding mandate in recent NEC elections should rest assured that I will continue to work hard for them.

“Westminster is increasingly irrelevant to Scotland’s constitutional future and @theSNP would do well to radically re-think our strategy.”

The row within the SNP has become so heated that last week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the unexpected decision to film a video pleading with younger members not to quit the party.

Ms Cherry is known for successfully challenging the UK government in court over the prerogation of Parliament. She has also been regarded as a possible future leader of the SNP.

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