Edinburgh Fringe show cancelled after staff revolt

An event featuring SNP MP Joanna Cherry that was set to take place at The Stand in Edinburgh has been cancelled due to staff concerns.

The venue made the decision to cancel the event, which was due to take place during the August Fringe Festival, after staff said they were uncomfortable with Cherry’s views on transgender issues, BBC Scotland reported.

The Edinburgh South MP is a critic of Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform plans, which make it easier for people to change their legally-recognised sex.

The show was billed as part of an In Conversation With series of events, with other guests including film director Ken Loach, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

The Stand said it did not endorse the views of any participant in the series, organised by independent producer Fair Pley.

“Following extensive discussions with our staff it has become clear that a number of key operational staff, including venue management and box office personnel, are unwilling to work on this event,” the venue said in a statement.

“We will ensure that their views are respected. We will not compel our staff to work on this event and so have concluded that the event is unable to proceed on a properly staffed, safe and legally compliant basis.”

Cherry said she was planning to talk about her career in politics and the Scottish independence movement, as well as her feminist views.

“I would hope The Stand would see sense here. Staff shouldn't be framing editorial and artistic policy,” she told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme.

“I'm being cancelled and no-platformed because I'm a lesbian who holds gender-critical views that somebody's sex is immutable.

“I've made those views clear over a number of years. I have never said that trans people should not have equal rights.”

She said the cancellation of the event signalled that “something's gone very wrong in Scotland's civic space”.