Isabel Ruffell

Professor of Greek Drama and Culture at Glasgow (she/her). Sight-impaired, trans, Green

Joined: 5 Nov 2022
Joined: 5 Nov 2022
website: https://artemisia.scot/
Imprint: Promoted by Isabel Ruffell, Scottish Green Party, 19B Graham Street, Edinburgh EH6 5QN.

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Last Notes

2026-04-28 08:36:06 GMT

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I don't know that I feel more violated having their literature than, say, #Starmer or #Phillipson or #Streeting or #Sarwar spreading lies about trans people whenever I turn on the radio or fire up the computer. But YMMMV.
A point to consider, though, is that the current rules on access to the electoral register allow parties not funded by tech bros and financial services to function on a bit of level playing field, e.g. (where canvassing is concerned).

2026-04-26 19:23:02 GMT

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You will have done for Westminster (and European) elections, where all parties are/were entitled to a Freepost leaflet delivery (also in Scotland for Holyrood constituenceis and regions; not sure about other devolved nations, London assembly etc).
But #Reform is a company rather than a conventional political party, so they're not well equipped for conventional campaigning.
Mind you, I'm yet to see any evidence of #Labour canvassing so far this year. '

2026-03-31 10:47:37 GMT

Since this is #trans day of visibility, it seems an appropriate moment to mention that I am standing for election to the Scottish Parliament on the Glasgow regional list for the @npub1nzf…lckw.
Good luck to all the other trans and non-binary Greens who are standing across the country as part of our most diverse set of candidates yet. Given the encouraging polls and the state of competing parties, I am very hopeful that one or more of you will be making history in May.
#ScotPol #UKPol

2026-03-23 20:59:08 GMT

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Yes, of course. I am really thinking of GNOME, KDE and core apps. It is not quite automagic if custom widgets are involved, as they often are with Kde., in particular
, I think there is also an issue of why someone would want to use a toolkit without accessibility tooling, at least for new apps.

2026-03-22 18:59:44 GMT

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Certainly. But that doesn't address my question about the readiness of FLOSS to comply in one case and not the other.
Privacy is enshrined in Article 8 of ECHR, which is a bit harder to undo, although the right in the UK are now intent on leaving (for other reasons).

2026-03-22 13:45:56 GMT

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I thought the Colorado situation was ongoing. But that doesn't invalidate my point that some statutes are given rapid attention and others, which are designed to help minorities are not.
Oh, and at the risk of being snarky, I note with amusement that a response to a point about accessibility is a youtube video. Honey, it is wasted on me.

2026-03-22 09:44:18 GMT

OK this is a stupid question, but why have Linux projects (apparently) fallen over themselves to comply with an age-recording statute in a single US state (albeit a large one), when those projects have been failing for decades to respect national and even international law regarding disability?
#accessibility #disability #linux #FreeSoftware #fascism #AgeVerification #infantilism

2026-03-04 19:04:17 GMT

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Haven't we been here before? Wasn't Widdicombe involved?
IIRC then it was chaining pregnant people to beds. I thought the practice had been ended because of the outcry, but they have evidently come up with another degrading policy. Whoever "they" are in this context.
I thought this lot and the last lot were claiming to be very concerned with women's rights, esp. in prisons.
#feminism #HumanRights

2026-02-28 19:19:11 GMT

Call me a deluded devotee of outdated British dogma if you like, but it does seem a trifle ... unsporting to condemn #Iran for firing back when the #US and #Israel are bombing the shit out of them.
I suppose it is the same #Labour ethics that sees them dumping on minoritiesand progressives and still expecting its victims to vote for them.
#UKPol

2026-01-14 23:30:24 GMT

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The Scottish universities aren't in great shape, either, I fear.

2025-11-27 20:57:41 GMT

So my institution is planning to demote as many full professors as it can, partly in response to the chronic underfunding of British higher education, partly pour encourager les autres. We had a couple of years of lip-service to dignity at work, work-life balance, etc, but we never believed that, and it's back to performance management by threats, just like the good old days.
.Could anyone use a broken-down old Classics prof who can write or code for food?
#fedihire

2025-11-23 12:16:00 GMT

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but we knew most of this alredy. It isn't a criminal process. There is a long history of Public Inquiries reporting and then nothing happening, as the news cycle moves on.
If, say, this leads to the NHS being adequately funded and managed with enough slack in the system to cope with crises, then great. That is a nettle that this lot won't grasp.
Oh, and will the UK media finally admit that the leadership and less fragmented NHS in Scotland did a lot better, despite constraints?

2025-11-02 14:44:25 GMT

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Yes, I imagined so, but I've seen this slide into denunciations of electoralism or presumptions of corruption, etc. We can't build if they are all as bad as each other.
Institutionalisation is one thing, and the media bubble, loss of a political purpose is another; the culture within a party another. Starmer & co seem unable or unwilling to challenge the right, but I doubt that follows from their educational background or chummy chats with the likes of Badenoch or Farage.

2025-11-02 09:41:00 GMT

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I am suspicious of "political class" rhetoric. Who do you mean, exactly?
I can give you plenty of reasons why our politics is a mess, and I might start with media (trad and social), party funding and FPTP.
But then I've been butting my head against it as a Green for 25 years, so I guess I am a member of that class?
I'm biased, but there is one very concrete thing that folk can do, and that is get involved with their Green Party.

2025-10-31 14:57:57 GMT

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Arr. Has anyone riffed on the mutiny theme yet? I thought I was overdosing enough on Patrick O'Brian as it was. Or possibly Captain Pugwash.

2025-10-31 10:12:44 GMT

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The problem with #Labour is not the lack of a rudder, which will need to be prised from Starmer's hands) but the lack of a (moral or political) compass, and apparently any charts or basic navigation skills. The massive leeway to starboard requires an urgent course correction if HMG Britannia is not to strike the treacherous reef of fascism.

2025-10-29 08:22:41 GMT

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Chloe encountered her through a local running group. She is fabulous.

2025-10-28 22:29:54 GMT

Another important wedding pic for us. As Chloe said in her speech at the lunch afterwards, some people think this sort of family not only should not exist, but does not exist.
Well, we do, and here we are.
I am breaking my usual rule of never posting pictures of the children in order to make this point (and I love this picture).
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/454/093/860/222/705/original/d732b2d52ee4bf7f.jpeg

2025-10-27 09:39:35 GMT

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In three senses:
1. Failing to fund the NHS adequately after more than a decade of Tory cuts and Covid
2. Increasing the role of the private sector (with whom Mr Streeting is notably close), and perpetuating the idea that the NHS needs "modernisation" rather than resources
3. More generally by failing to confront Farage and offering us Reform-lite instead.

2025-10-27 09:13:57 GMT

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And this is what #Reform want for the UK. AND #Labour is teeing it up for them.

2025-10-05 10:06:08 GMT

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Volunteering and selective donations will never be an adequate replacement for a fair, equitable and universal set of public services. This has been demonstrated over and over again.

2025-10-04 20:37:57 GMT

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Let ne translate:
GPEW has a leader energetically promoting existing policies and people have noticed.
Reform are fascist.
These Tories are fascist.
Starmer apes fascist tropes, but is incoherent and chaotic. Who knows what he really believes, but the damage is done regardless.

2025-09-29 13:05:22 GMT

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Why does this surprise you?

2025-09-13 12:11:24 GMT

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Perhaps, but you may be confusing media prominence with social visibility or acceptance.

2025-09-13 10:11:38 GMT

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Are you suggesting that there was less sexual exploitation before the 60s? That would be a curious reading of history.

2025-09-07 15:35:42 GMT

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Scottish law is distinct in many ways (even without devolution). Cf drug consumption rooms.

2025-09-02 21:34:44 GMT

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Either way, it comes down to the same thing. Whether it's sincere fascism or feigned fascism, it's still fascism.
#Labour #Starmer #UKPol

2025-08-05 15:40:04 GMT

There now seems to be less than 24hrs between Farage saying something inflammatory and unsubstantiated and Cooper endorsing it as #Labour policy.
There seems to be a preference for rewarding political violence and intimidation and demonising peaceful protest and entire categories of people yet again.

2025-06-07 09:56:58 GMT

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Graun not changing, then.
Are the #EHRC or #Labour serious in thinking we will come quietly?
On which note, is anyone maintaining a list of transphobic companies and orgs rushing to comply?

2025-05-27 11:48:49 GMT

Looking forward to the BBC headling a Green Party press conference about an imaginary, uncosted manifesto commitment four years out from the relevant election
#BBC #fascism #FakeNeutrality

2025-05-21 00:23:42 GMT

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I am really looking forward to the legal defence of this.

2024-12-09 18:39:37 GMT

I hear that #Labour ministers are very concerned about the new Syrian regime's guaranteeing the rights of minorities.
Perhaps #Starmer should have a word with Wesley #Streeting while he's at it. And maybe have a good chat with himself about cosying up to the Saudi regime?
But I forget, it has to be the right kind of minorities, or something.
#UKPol #HumanRights #OrgulhoLGBT

2024-12-07 01:51:20 GMT

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How is that bending different from what Streeting, Starmer and Sarwar are doing? I had respect for Nicola, even though she seemed slow to recognize the culture-war weaponisation of transphobia. But Humza whiffed and Swinney is in hock to Forbes. Even before Streeting, Scottish trans kids had been thrown to the wolves.

2024-12-06 17:26:39 GMT

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Well, let's not forget that they fell in line on Cass, and dissolved the BHA partly over this. And they have never dealt with their transphobes.
Unfair?

2024-12-06 15:54:39 GMT

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Sorry, this is The Guardian asking??
Anyway, who needs elected judges when you have dishonest, cowardly and bigoted parties like Labour, SNP and Tories? We've already lost gender-affirming care for kids. And that is of course being weaponised in the SCOTUS hearing.

2024-11-15 11:22:17 GMT

I noted for the first time this morning that the pusllanimous media have started using "vaccine sceptic" instead of more accurate terms such as "science denier" or "malignant fool".
#BothSides #UKMedia #UKPol #USPol #vaccines #AntiScience

2024-11-13 15:40:49 GMT

So Streeting's plans for the NHS in full:
1. Dump on trans kids
2. Smart watches
3. League tables
4. Er
What a muppet.
#UKPol #Labour #Streeting

2024-11-07 22:43:57 GMT

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Ekkleziousai (Wonen at the Assembly) would be very pertinent at this point.
Oddly, it has had less traction: women take power and enact communism.

2024-11-02 11:47:38 GMT

So one entertaining aspect of this fascist beauty contest is that there were fewer than 100 000 Tory members prepared to vote.
So, from census data, there are more trans folk than this turnout, let alone the numbers who voted Badenoch. About five times more than her mandate IIRC.
#Badenoch #Tories #UKPol #TransRights

2024-09-29 10:29:55 GMT

The bizarre nature of British politics is that both Tory and Labour are fighting over the, at best, 17% who vote Reform. The election signalled that the majority did not want corrupt extremism. And polls show massive Brexit regret.
Meanwhile, the Tories have lost any USP, and survive on residual brand loyalty (like Maxwell House).
To add to this mess in Scotland, the SNP is still traumatised by the threat of Alba (who have only ever lost elections).
#UkPol #UkPolitics

2024-09-29 09:51:04 GMT

Well, Starmer throwing trans folk under the bus to appease Duffield really worked.
#UkPol #UkPolitics #Labour #Starmer #Duffield

2024-09-07 15:07:14 GMT

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Easily more than that - I didn't manage even to see the fash for all the decent folk.

2024-09-03 07:27:53 GMT

British Social Attitudes Survey indicates steep fall in nationalism and a rise in inclusiveness. And yet this is reflected neither in our mainstream news media nor by major UK political parties.
Really, what is Labour's excuse?
#UKPol #UKPolitics #Labour #Tories #BBC #Brexit #diversity #inclusion

2024-08-26 10:34:22 GMT

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I am not sure tbh. We get Jan 2, but I think there are other differences, and local traditions, e.g. Glasgow Fair. There are a couple in September, although we have swapped those at work for days at Christmas.

2024-08-26 10:19:51 GMT

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it's not a holiday in Scotland, to be pedantic.

2024-08-22 20:57:18 GMT

Wes Streeting is evil.
#transphobia

2024-08-11 12:20:47 GMT

Not a surprise, but further confirmation that the Cass review was a rigged hit job on trans kids.
#Cass #transphobia #TransHealthcare
https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/08/10/hilary-cass-recommended-book-to-former-colleagues/

2024-08-10 20:11:00 GMT

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I have seen "dilogy" used.

2024-08-09 08:37:28 GMT

So the SNP continue to throw trans people under the bus. This time it is arbitrarily ending the longstanding provision of self-referral to GICs.
As someone who at different periods accessed gender services through layered gatekeeping and through self-referral, I can affirm that the former does not make you less trans; it only increases the trauma. Which is, of course, the point.
#transphobia #TransHealthcare #WhatTransHealthcare? #progressiveScotland

2024-07-06 15:12:10 GMT

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I imagine Dodds was at Cabinet because she is party Chair? I think Development is lumped with FCO since the Tories abolished it.

2024-07-06 14:36:13 GMT

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Thornberry the main Shadoe Cabinet role that didn't transfer, and would be an ally, if not perhaps an effective one.
Also, wasn't it Culture that needed filling, and Nandy went there?

2024-06-28 11:05:29 GMT

So, let us summarize the state of British politics. You can call out racism and homophobia if it is by one of the little people, but otherwise it must be platformed at every opportunity. Transphobia must never be called out, and is arguably obligatory.
Tell me I'm wrong.
#UKPol #UKPolitics #UKElection #Labour #Reform #bigotry

2024-06-25 16:15:50 GMT

Oh I see we are onto conversion practices now.
There is a part of me which will enjoy Starmer, Streeting and others trying to explain their manifesto, which is at that point pretty unequivocal about gender identity - this is the fundamental issue, on which they will never do enough to appease the phobes. Their choices are: disown their manifesto, look like idiots, or tell the truth about trans people.
I am not sanguine about which way they'll jump.
#UKPol #UKElection #Labour

2024-06-24 16:27:20 GMT

Labour is so proud of its own Equality Act that it will ban its discussion in schools.
#UKPol #UKElection #Labour #HumanRights

2024-06-20 14:41:47 GMT

It is a signal achievement of the Tory Party that it has sunk low enough to allow the Met Police to take the moral high ground.
#UKElection #UKPol #Tories #cheating