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Best of the Spectator

Women With Balls: Joanna Cherry

Best of the Spectator

The Spectator

News Commentary, News, Daily News, Society & Culture

4.4785 Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2020

⏱️ 35 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Joanna Cherry is the SNP's Justice and Home Affairs Spokesperson and a prolific QC, known for her successful legal challenge against the government over its decision to prorogue parliament. In the end, Boris Johnson's prorogation was declared unlawful. On the podcast, she talks to Katy about her Scottish Labour days, the misogyny she identifies in the current debate over trans rights, and taking the Prime Minister to court.

Women With Balls is a podcast series where Katy Balls speak to women at the top of their respective games. To hear past episodes, visit spectator.co.uk/balls.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Just before you start listening to this podcast, a reminder that we have a special subscription offer.

0:04.8

You can get 12 issues of The Spectator for £12, as well as a £20,000 Amazon voucher.

0:10.1

Go to spectator.com.uk forward slash voucher if you'd like to get this offer.

0:17.9

Hello and welcome to Women with Balls, where I, Katie Balls, talk to today's trailblazers.

0:23.9

This podcast is back for the new year, along with an array of special guests lined up for the months ahead.

0:29.3

Today, I'm delighted to be joined by Joanna Cherry, the S&P's Justice and Home Affairs spokesperson, and the prolific QC.

0:37.1

Cherry entered Parliament in 2015 as part of the SNP general election landslide in the wake of

0:42.5

the independence referendum.

0:44.6

The MP for Edinburgh South West has since carved out a reputation as one of her party's

0:49.0

most determined MPs.

0:51.2

Last year, she made headlines across the world thanks to her efforts for the legal

0:55.4

challenge against Boris Johnson's decision to prurogue Parliament. Cherry was the leading

1:00.4

litigant in the Scottish court case, which was successful and then brought to the Supreme Court.

1:05.8

Her legal challenge resulted in the Prime Minister's prerogation being declared unlawful

1:10.1

and Parliament returning immediately, or continuing as in fact it was never suspended in the first place.

1:16.8

Prior to pursuing a career in politics, Cherry practised as an advocate for 20 years.

1:21.9

She became a QC in 2009 and was ranked as one of the leading queues season in Scotland by the Legal 500.

1:28.9

Cherry is a passionate advocate for Scottish independence, and after the SMP's big wins in the 2019

1:34.3

SNF election, she is one of a number of MPs arguing that the case for a second referendum

1:39.4

has never been more potent. So thank you for joining us today, Joanna. Before we move on to today's

1:45.5

political situation on this podcast, we like to begin by turning back the hands of time and looking

1:51.5

to what you were doing before politics. So going to your early life, you grew up in Edinburgh,

...

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