Gillian Martin, who was unveiled yesterday as Scotland's new minister for FE, HE and science, will not now be taking up the post.

The removal of Ms Martin, who worked as a lecturer in TV production at what is now North East Scotland College for 15 years, from the list of new ministers comes after a 2007 blog resurfaced, containing controversial comments about transgender and disabled people. 

The issue was raised by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard in First Minister's Questions this morning. He said Gillian Martin had described transgender people as “hairy knuckled, lipstick-wearing, transitional, transgender laydees” in a blog, which was published in 2007.

College PR claims

Mr Leonard said Ms Martin had also claimed that college PR staff used disabled students for PR purposes, claiming that they “froth at the mouth with excitement if anyone in a wheelchair does anything that can be remotely described as an achievement”.

Mr Leonard said: "Minutes ago, Gillian Martin’s name was removed from the list of new ministers. However, the point is that the first minister [Nicola Sturgeon] knew about those comments and still proposed to put Gillian Martin in charge of further and higher education. In the end, this is not just about Gillian Martin’s judgment; this is about the first minister’s judgment, is it not?"

This morning, Ms Sturgeon said: "It is with regret that I will not be asking parliament to approve the appointment of Gillian Martin as a minister. Over the course of this morning, information about the content of a blog written by her over 10 years ago have been brought to my attention. I have not been previously aware of all the comments I am now aware of.

'Ill-advised'

"I have to say that this content, however ill-advised it may be, does not reflect the views of the person that I know in Gillian Martin. However, the content does merit my further consideration, and I will therefore not ask parliament to approve this appointment until I have had the chance to reflect further." 

NUS Scotland president Luke Humberstone said: “We welcome that the Scottish Parliament today stood against unacceptable, offensive language, and that the Scottish government took the decision to withdraw the ministerial appointment for further education, higher education, and science announced yesterday.

“Our universities and colleges, rightly, pride themselves on the diversity of their staff and students, and are often at the forefront of positive social change. We expect the minister, when they are appointed, to be a champion for the rich diversity on the campuses they represent."