Stephen Daisley Stephen Daisley

The persecution of Marion Millar and Kathleen Stock

Marion Millar outside court (Credit: YouTube)

Marion Millar’s nightmare is over. The Scottish accountant facing prosecution for ‘transphobic’ tweets has been told the Crown is discontinuing its case against her. Millar stood accused of acting in a threatening or abusive manner and in a way aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation and transgender identity. At issue were a series of tweets which, it was claimed, were of a ‘homophobic and transphobic nature’.

Millar, a member of the women’s rights group For Women Scotland, has been involved in the debate over reform of the Gender Recognition Act in Scotland, where Nicola Sturgeon’s devolved government is firmly aligned with trans rights organisations and their efforts to prize gender identity over biological sex in law, public policy and even the census. The decision to bring a prosecution against Millar prompted anger and a pushback from women in Scotland and around the world under the slogan ‘Women Won’t Wheesht’.

Her solicitor David McKie said today:

‘My client is very pleased to have received confirmation that the case against her had been discontinued by the Crown. She had intended to defend the charge against her vigorously had it had proceeded to trial and this decision brings a very stressful period to an end. In her view, it is the right decision for a whole number of reasons, not least of which is the cost to the public purse.’

You can try to force women like Marion Millar and Kathleen Stock to say the catechism

It seems beyond doubt that something went very wrong in this case. Yes, the Crown can decide at any point that it’s not in the public interest to pursue an action. But it’s not clear what has changed since Millar appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court in August to prompt this rethink. 

A cynic might speculate that the police and procurator fiscal went all-in for prosecution — one of Millar’s messages was alleged

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