Europe | Scotland | History

Dale Greig, Early Women’s Marathoner, Is Dead at 82

Dale Greig had been a champion cross-country runner in Scotland when she decided to run the Isle of Wight Marathon in 1964. It was a bold decision. Not only was it her first marathon; she was also entering what had been an exclusively male preserve. Women were all but excluded from running the 26-mile 385-yard race because the track authorities believed that they were too weak to endure it. There would be no women’s Olympic marathon until 1984. Race organizers on the Isle of Wight were sympathetic enough to let Greig (pronounced GREG) run. But they required her to start four minutes bef

Europe | Scotland | Politics

Nicola Sturgeon Tells Muslim Women To Get Involved In Politics

Source: Buzzfeed

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged young Muslim women to get involved in politics and aspire to join the Scottish parliament. In a interview on Thursday evening with Radio Ramadhan, a Glasgow-based community radio station aimed at the city’s Muslim community, Sturgeon discussed ethnic minority representation in parliament, as well as the Scotland bill currently passing through the Westminster parliament. When asked what she would say to young Muslim women who wear scarves – hijabis – and think they could never become first minister, Sturgeon said: “If you want

Europe | Scotland | Politics

Parties target women’s economic inequality, but much still needs to be done

Source: The Conversation

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish National Party leader, announced her party’s “Women’s Pledge” at a live event in Glasgow on April 25, promising to deliver policies that promote equality for women. But how are the parties doing overall? My yardstick is the blueprint that was recently published by the UK and Scottish Women’s Budget Groups, who campaign for a fully gender-equal society (full disclosure: I convene the Scottish body and am a member of the UK body). Plan F proposes to reverse the cuts to public services and social security that have particularly adversely affected women.

Europe | Scotland | Politics

Nicola Sturgeon: “The people are in charge, not politicians.”

Source: theguardian

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that a vote for the Scottish National party in next month’s general election does not amount to a vote for a second referendum on Scottish independence. The SNP leader was speaking as she visited party activists in Aberdeen city centre in advance of Wednesday night’s second televised Scottish leaders’ debate. In a debate on STV on Tuesday, Sturgeon appeared to suggest that the party would hold another referendum if it wins the 2016 Holyrood elections on a manifesto promising a second vote. Sturgeon was asked by broadcasters if she regretted mentioning t

Europe | Scotland | Politics

SNP vote in all-women and ‘balanced’ shortlists for next Holyrood election

Source: theguardian

The Scottish National party has voted heavily in favour of introducing all women shortlists and “balanced” regional lists, reversing decades-long opposition to positive action. SNP officials refused to disclose the voting numbers and would not allow media into the debate – fearing it would be heated, but in a closed session of the party’s pre-election conference at the SECC in Glasgow delegates gave the party’s national executive three new powers to push women candidates forward.

Europe | Scotland | Politics

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces extra £20million to help tackle violence against women

Source: The Daily Record

FUNDING aimed at tackling violence against women is being boosted with an extra £20million of Scottish Government cash, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced. The money, which will be spread over three years, is on top of £11.8million set aside for this as part of the equality budget for 2015-16. The cash will be used to increase capacity at courts in a bid to reduce delays and ensure cases are dealt with quicker. Projects which work with men who have been convicted of domestic abuse in a bid to address the underlying causes of their behaviour are also to be expanded, and victims

Europe | Scotland | Ethics

Nicola Sturgeon: I’m SNP leader, not Alex Salmond

Source: The Telegraph

Nicola Sturgeon has been forced to reassert she is the SNP leader after Alex Salmond undermined her demands for propping up a minority Labour government after the general election. The First Minister insisted that her predecessor is merely a member of her “team” and “I’m leading the SNP campaign” after he said he would install Ed Miliband in Downing Street regardless of whether a power-sharing deal was reached. His comments undermined Ms Sturgeon’s key campaign message.