Holyrood 545 / 10 March 2025

Sisters in arms: Cross-party MSPs find common cause
Plus
Exclusive interview: Naomi Cunningham, barrister for Sandie Peggie

3 Editor’s note
The SNP has played a leading role in creating an environment of division, so excuse me if I’m sceptical about the party calling for cohesion now

5 Roundup
Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks

7 Talking Point
The troubling case of Jagtar Singh Johal

8 In Context
Council tax hikes

10 Spotlight: Divide and Conquer
John Swinney’s cross-party summit could be a clever way of driving a wedge between his opponents

12 Overview: The Lives of Women
Many women feel they are having to re-fight old battles for equality

14 Interview: Cross-Party
Claire Baker, Michelle Thomson and Tess White on coming together to tackle violence against women

18 Feature: Women’s Studies
Against brutal Taliban restrictions, 19 students brought to Scotland by a charity are a beacon of hope

21 Polling: Silenced and Targeted
The online abuse endured by female MSPs and the worry it could put women off a career in politics

25 Feature: Cosmetic Surgery
Pressure is growing for legislation to protect those seeking out non-surgical aesthetic treatments

28 Interview: Naomi Cunningham
The barrister at the centre of the Sandie Peggie case on reclaiming the word ‘woman’

34 Getting to know you
Tory MP John Cooper on enduring abuse as a journalist

36 Event spotlight
Roundtable on tech in the NHS, sponsored by Accurx

40 Comment
Questions remain about Scotland’s pandemic response

41 Political Spin
Edward Mountain shares his go-to karaoke song

42 Diary
Anoraks, erections and electric vehicles

43 Last Word
Sketch: Fulton MacGregor finds out what he’s at Holyrood to do

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