Why SNP women are heading for the exit

At the latest count, 14 female SNP MSPs have announced they will quit parliament at the next election. It’s not hard to see why any SNP politician might be reluctant to stand on their party's terrible record in government. After almost two decades in power, every area of Scottish life is in a worse condition than before they took office. Even Nationalist royalty, like Fergus Ewing, born into the party, aren’t prepared to defend their policies.

- Rachael Hamilton

There’s plenty of evidence from female SNP politicians past and present that the party’s notorious propensity for infighting, secrecy and intimidation has disproportionally hit women — especially the few prepared to stand up against the toxic proposals in Nicola Sturgeon's gender self-ID legislation.

They’ve also witnessed Stephen Flynn and other failed MPs trying to elbow aside women to secure a seat in the Scottish Parliament.