SNP Politician Blames Chest Infection for 'Charity' Gaffe
Collette Stevenson attributes her widely mocked question about Transport Scotland's status to illness, calling criticism 'misogynistic bullying'.
An SNP politician has attributed her widely criticized question about the status of Transport Scotland to a chest infection, stating that the illness affected her concentration. Collette Stevenson, a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for East Kilbride, faced ridicule last week after asking during a televised committee meeting if the government agency was a registered charity.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Stevenson explained that she was in the early stages of a severe chest infection, which impacted her sleep and focus. She stated that she had been advised by medical professionals to take time away from Parliament to recover, citing a flare-up of asthma as well.
Stevenson, who has served as an MSP for five years, had asked Transport Scotland director Graeme Cook, "I take it Transport Scotland is a registered charity?" Mr. Cook responded by explaining that Transport Scotland is a non-departmental government body and a legal entity of the Scottish Government.
The gaffe led to a wave of online mockery. In her statement, Stevenson called the disproportionate abuse, mockery, and what she termed "misogynistic bullying" directed at her online "toxic culture" that women in politics frequently endure.
She also highlighted her ongoing engagement with Transport Scotland on projects such as the East Kilbride rail enhancement and electrification project, emphasizing that robust scrutiny is a necessary part of public life. Stevenson's error follows other recent public missteps by SNP figures in committee meetings, including Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn's explanation for not knowing about a gas leak and Rural Affairs Secretary Gillian Martin's apparent unawareness of the government's ownership stake in crofting land.