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Watch: Sturgeon ties herself in knots

Oh dear. It seems that Nicola Sturgeon seems to have got her progressive causes in a muddle. The First Minister is having a tricky time trying to work out if she’s a feminist first or an LGBT ally in light of her government’s U-turn on trans prisoners. On Sunday, a ‘pause’ was placed on the transfer to women’s jails of trans inmates with a history of violence, after the Scottish Prison initially sent a double rapist to a women’s only-prison.

But today when asked if she would apologise, the First Minister refused, saying: ‘I don’t think there is anything for that.’ And in an excruciating interview with ITV’s Peter Smith this afternoon, Sturgeon sought to avoid addressing the logical conclusion of her government’s commitments on transgender rights. Smith asked Sturgeon whether ‘Are all trans women, women?’ prompting the First Minister to suggest, er, that he was at fault for asking the wrong question.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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