Scottish Government paid leading lawyer £100k for work on misogyny it later junked

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur has today criticised the Scottish Government for ditching proposals set out by Baroness Helena Kennedy for tackling misogyny.

The Independent Working Group on Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland, chaired by Baroness Kennedy reported in 2022 and recommended the creation of a Misogyny and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act.

However in May 2025, the Scottish Government announced that the planned legislation would be scrapped.

Parliamentary questions from Mr McArthur have now revealed that the total cost of work considering and progressing misogyny legislation by the Scottish Government was £143,668.13, of which £109,117.20 was paid to Baroness Kennedy in her role as Chair of the Working Group.

Commenting on the figures, Mr McArthur said:

“I have no qualms with Helena Kennedy’s fee. She is a hugely respected legal professional at the top of her field. What I have an issue with is the Scottish Government talking a good game about addressing misogyny in our society, paying for this work and then unceremoniously junking it.

“Helena Kennedy’s report laid bare the extent of misogyny across our society. It made abundantly clear that women are not a minority and that a distinct set of responses was necessary to tackle deeply rooted misogyny.

“The legislation that the working group proposed was a chance to substantially improve protections, help change culture and behaviours and move us closer to eradicating misogyny. It seems the government is now deciding to roll the dice in favour of proposals that Baroness Kennedy was pretty explicit are not the right approach to this problem.

“Ministers have indicated that sex will be included as a protected characteristic in separate legislation. However I am concerned that this will fall short of the dedicated approach needed to tackle the pernicious attitudes that demean and degrade women.

“I know that many will be concerned about the signal this sends about the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling misogyny, I want them to know that Scottish Liberal Democrats share that concern and will continue to fight their corner.”