Ex-chair of SNP LGBT group says female boardroom quota is a ‘f***ing stupid’ idea
The former chair of the Scottish National Party’s LGBT group has attacked First Minister Alex Salmond’s plan for a 40% female quota in boardrooms.
SNP Councillor Gregor Murray, the deputy convener of education on Dundee City Council, was previously convener of the SNP’s LGBT group, Out for Independence, when it was still an unofficial organisation within the SNP.
The Herald reports Cllr Murray wrote on Facebook that the quota was “the biggest load of p*** I have ever seen in my life”.
Cllr Murray previously worked for Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary promoting the quota.
In a reference to Ms Robison, he added: Sorry Shona pal, I love you very dearly, but that’s just f***ing stupid.”
Cllr Murray also attacked the idea on Twitter.
https://t.co/PowHeTZUxL Sorry @ShonaRobison but this has to be most stupid suggestion I’ve seen in a long time. #NotEquality #Tokenism
— Gregor Murray (@grogipher) May 20, 2014
Although females make up 52% of the population, only 36% of public board members and just 21% of board chairs in Scotland are held by women.
Scottish Labour equalities spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “When even senior nationalists are admitting that Alex Salmond’s recent conversion to gender equality in his cabinet is tokenism, you know that he is fooling no-one and most women will see the SNP’s clumsy attempts to woo them for what they are.”
An SNP spokesman said: “Women now make up 40% of the Scottish Government Cabinet, and ensuring that women make up at least 40% of the boards of our public bodies will help to drive that change forward – something that the SNP takes extremely seriously, even if Labour clearly does not.”
Cllr Murray has since sought to apologise for his use of language.
He said: “While I have my own views on the subject, I believe that I should have expressed them in a more responsible way.”
The 27-year-old, one of two SNP councillors in Dundee’s North East ward, was elected in 2012.
He still appears to be facing a tough time judging by his latest tweet.
Cllr Laurie Bidwell has demanded my resignation. Yassssss! Hilarious stuff. #naw — Gregor Murray (@grogipher) May 30, 2014
