(c) thinkstock
Scotland is to be the first part of the UK with a statutory target for equal representation of women on public boards. As you know, the Scottish Cabinet already has such equality.
First on banning smoking in public places, first on minimum alcohol pricing, first on free-care for the disabled, first to have statutory targets for tackling poverty and homelessness, first to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, first on baby boxes and free sanitary products, first to propose giving refugees the right to vote, first to ban the use of electric collars on dogs and now first to demand equal representation for women on public boards. Private boards will take a bit of doing.
From Insider magazine, yesterday:
‘New legislation aimed at ensuring women make up at least half the board members for all public authorities is expected to be win the support of MSPs. They are expected to pass legislation will make Scotland the only part of the UK with a statutory target for the proportion of women on public boards. It rules that females make up a minimum of 50% of non-executive members by 2022.The Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill would apply to colleges, universities and some public bodies including health boards, enterprise agencies, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.’
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scotland-become-only-part-uk-11937430
One more piece of evidence of enough of a difference in our predominant values, popular and governmental, to suggest that we don’t belong in any state dominated by conservative, archaic, values and currently governed by a Conservative Party full of openly misogynistic buffoons and women who have drawn the ladder up behind them?
Talking-up Scotland 
I am sure we will have a BBC phone-in about this.
“Isn’t this just virtue signalling?”. “Shouldn’t the guiding principle be ‘the best person for the job’?” This will be followed by a reading of half a dozen texts all of the ‘Why-oh-why?’ type. Then there will be someone like Anne Widdicombe, interviewed at length about why this is ‘politically correct’ claptrap and, since she is a woman this proves that the proposal must be wrong.
The news bulletin will then be mainly about female employees in the BBC receiving a bad deal, with yet another interview with the martyred Eleanor Bradford, prior to her beatification. Then Lucy Adams will tell us about an FoI request which proves yet again that NHS Scotland is irredeemably bad.
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“Congratulations Alasdair – you’ve passed your interview with flying colours – can I be the first to welcome you aboard the good ship ‘ BBC Scotland’? – I really believe you’ll have a most promising future with us – You have demonstrated true commitment. Yours, Donalda. (A sudden dystopian day-dream I had as I read your most insightful post!)
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