Former Edinburgh MP Joanna Cherry quits SNP after becoming 'ashamed of being a member'
Writing autobiography prompted decision to quit
Former Edinburgh MP Joanna Cherry has resigned from the SNP after becoming "absolutely disgusted" by the party and "ashamed of being a member".
She has also branded First Minister John Swinney a "coward" who was not implementing the Supreme Court ruling on sex and gender.
And she is undecided on how to vote in the Scottish Parliament elections, saying she would like to find a party that supports independence and women's rights, but "that party doesn't seem to exist".
Ms Cherry - who was SNP MP for Edinburgh South West from 2015 until she lost the seat in 2024 - made the comments in an interview with The Times, which is publishing extracts from her autobiography 'Keeping the Dream Alive'.
The book is said to reveal, among other things, that Nicola Sturgeon seriously considered appointing Ms Cherry as Lord Advocate in 2016, but it did not happen because it would have triggered a by-election; and that, in the wake of Ms Cherry’s fall out with Ms Sturgeon, John Swinney sought to restore relationships by offering an olive branch when he became First Minister.
In the interview, Ms Cherry said: "As I was writing this book, I realised I've become absolutely disgusted by the SNP, and ashamed of being a member. It doesn't mean I don't support independence - I still do. I didn't resign publicly because I may rejoin at some point in the future, but I made it clear that if I was asked whether I am still a member, I will tell the truth."
She said it seemed the Scottish Government intended "to continue ignoring the law" on women’s rights, referring to the Supreme Court's ruling that the words sex, man and woman in the Equality Act 2020 refer specifically to biological sex.
"Swinney is still too afraid to lay down the law in the party and say 'it's time to accept that gender identity ideology is not part of the law'. But a leader shouldn't be a coward. And John Swinney should have the courage to use the Supreme Court ruling to make the changes that are required."
She said when it came to the list vote in the May 7 Holyrood elections, she would be pleased to vote for Ash Regan, a fellow former SNP politician who is standing as an independent. But on the constituency vote, she has not decided what to do. "I would like to be able to vote for a party that supports independence, supports women's rights and the rights of lesbians. But it's quite hard to find a party that does that at the moment, so I may be disenfranchised."
Asked on the campaign trail about Ms Cherry’ comments, Mr Swinney said he was "satisfied the Scottish Government has taken the necessary steps to implement the Supreme Court ruling".
Pressed on her decision to quit the party, he said: "People make their own decisions about their politics. So much of what is being talked about here is in the past and I am looking to the future."