Mhairi Black needs to grow up

When 20-year old Mhairi Black was elected in 2015, she became the youngest MP for over 300 years. Eight years later, it seems that the ‘baby of the house’ has yet to grow up. Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Black has likened gender critical campaigners to white supremacists, and suggested that they were funded by ‘fundamental Christian groups in America, Baptist groups [and] anti-abortion organisations.’

It’s doubtful whether Black reached even the ad hominem level of debate as she dismissed those who disagreed with her in the febrile row over transgender rights. When asked if she believe that someone with a different philosophical view to her could still be ‘a thoroughly decent person’, Black replied, ‘If you keep it to yourself, aye.’

Name calling and silencing are the tools of the playground bully. But as she laid into those she dismissed as ‘bad actors’ and ‘50-year-old Karens’, what came over to me was a total lack of self-awareness.