Scottish Tory MSP Jamie Greene not sacked due to backing gender reforms, claims Douglas Ross

Russell Findlay replaced the MSP as justice spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives.

The Scottish Conservative leader has denied he sacked a prominent, trans rights supporting frontbencher over his support of the Scottish Government’s gender reforms.

This is despite Jamie Greene, who was demoted to the backbenches from his role as justice spokesperson, saying he was “probably” axed for his support of gender recognition reforms and journalists being briefed that was part of the reason for his departure.

Douglas Ross, however, said the MSP's backing of the reforms – something party insiders said he had become the “poster boy” for as it made its way through Holyrood – was not why he was replaced.

Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, sacked Jamie Greene as justice spokesperson.

Speaking to reporters outside Tulliallan Police College on Friday, Mr Ross was asked whether Mr Greene was sacked for his support for gender reforms.

"No,” he said. “I think the best example that that was not the case was the fact that Sandesh Gulhane who, in a free vote, and I was the only party leader to offer a free vote to my MSPs, also voted for the legislation and Sandesh Gulhane remains in the shadow cabinet as shadow cabinet secretary for heath.

"I’ve done now three reshuffles and at every reshuffle a couple of people have had to leave so I can bring new talent in.

"I’ve brought in new talent like Russell [Findlay, the new justice spokesperson] and Douglas Lumsden in the energy brief and I think it is really good that some of our 2021 intake are now sitting around the shadow cabinet table helping us develop our policies going forward.”

Mr Greene has also questioned the suggestion the gender reform Bill was a “true free vote” as he said he had not been told why he was axed from the justice post.

The West of Scotland MSP said: “I actually wasn’t given a reason, to be quite honest. Not face to face anyway.”

Referencing the briefings around his views on trans rights leading to the sacking, Mr Greene added: “That’s what members of the press and journalists were being told. So I have to assume that is the case. And I find that disappointing.”

Mr Greene told the BBC it was “hard to take it [his sacking] any other way” than as a punishment for his support of gender reforms.

Asked why Mr Greene would feel victimised in this way and why the press were briefed that his sacking was due to his position on trans rights, Mr Ross said it was “natural” for those who missed out on senior positions during the reshuffle to be upset.

He said: "I’m sorry Jamie feels like that. We had a discussion, I spoke with every one of my MSPs over the 24 hours that I conducted the reshuffle and obviously people who got promotions were happy, people who didn’t get what they wanted were maybe less happy, and those who sadly had to leave shadow cabinet were understandably not happy. That is a perfectly natural reaction.

"But Jamie has played a significant role in the party, in shadow cabinets, not just mine, but previous leaders’ shadow cabinets and he will continue to play a big role in the party going forward.”