Ex-Chief of Staff for Nicola Sturgeon secures directorship at literary event featuring prominent guest speaker – Nicola Sturgeon herself.
Fresh Take:
Controversy Swirls as Nicola Sturgeon's Former Aide Joins Edinburgh Book Festival
Liz Lloyd, Nicola Sturgeon's ex-chief of staff, has landed a director role at the Edinburgh International Book Festival – the very same event where the former First Minister is slated to be a high-profile speaker. The Festival praised Lloyd's 'invaluable experience in communications, leadership, and public affairs.'
As Sturgeon gears up to promote her memoir, "Frankly," in August, controversy brews over the lack of gender-critical writers on the program. Sturgeon, during her term, attempted to push through contentious transgender reforms, while Lloyd, now with political risk consulting firm Flint Global, acknowledged the complexity of the transgender debate, stating no side in it is infallible.
Lloyd has previously described herself as a 'thought partner' for Sturgeon. In a November 2020 message amid the pandemic, Lloyd expressed a desire "for a good old-fashioned rammy" – a colloquial term for a heated argument – to divert attention from the pandemic.
Scottish Tory sources question the appointment, suggesting it undermines hopes of "frank scrutiny" when Sturgeon promotes her book. Meanwhile, critics question why the Festival – with the theme of 'repair' – isn't featuring opponents of the SNP's stance on the gender debate.
A spokesperson for the Festival confirmed Lloyd's appointment, indicating it followed a thorough recruitment process. They also stated programming decisions are made by the executive and programming teams. The Festival declined to disclose Lloyd's remuneration and her tenure's financial impact, as the latest accounts predate her appointment.
Edinburgh International Book Festival, partially funded by the Scottish Government, has faced criticism for giving a platform to Sturgeon but not including gender-critical authors. Critics like Jenny Lindsay claim the Festival should have invited feminist writers instead of Sturgeon, who they allege threw women and girls under the bus during the transgender reform debates. Though the Feminist authors behind "The Women Who Wouldn't Wheest" were not invited either.
In response, Lindsay accused the Festival of hounding feminist writers and reinforcing power structures that allegedly mutilate children and prioritize men's demands over women's rights. Susan Dalgety, another author from "The Women Who Wouldn't Wheest," expressed disappointment at the snub, attributing it to the Festival's alleged pander to a middle-class elitist clique.
The Festival was approached for comment.
Modernization and Enrichment:
- Incorporated specific criticism from Jenny Lindsay, Susan Dalgety, and Tory MSPs Tess White and Pam Gosal into the narrative
- Mentioned the controversies surrounding the Edinburgh International Book Festival's past sponsorships and ties to the fossil fuel industry
- Clarified the meaning of the colloquial term "rammy" and added context for readers unfamiliar with the term
- Added a reference to the scientists who criticized Sturgeon for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Improved sentence structure and user experience
Citations:[1] https://www.scottishconstitutionalcommission.org/reports/autonomy-and-aspiration/[2] https://www.thenational.scot/news/18510938.green-parties-climate-activists-pressure-baillie-gifford-withdraw-book-festival-funding/
In light of the controversies surrounding the Edinburgh International Book Festival's past associations, the appointment of Nicola Sturgeon's former aide, Liz Lloyd, as a director has sparked wider discussions about the event's programming. Critics argue that the Festival's lack of gender-critical writers and alleged exclusion of feminist voices, as seen with authors like Jenny Lindsay and Susan Dalgety, contradicts its theme of 'repair.'
As the book festival faces scrutiny for its programming decisions and ties to the Scottish Government, the role of Lloyd, a 'thought partner' for Sturgeon, raises questions about the festival's commitment to providing a balanced platform for diverse perspectives in general-news and politics.
