Woman who 'flashed' MSPs in gender reform debate becomes election candidate

The woman who 'flashed' MSPs with a pubic wig during the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill debate is to stand for election.

Elaine Miller, who opposed the bill, staged the protest in the public gallery in December, saying: "If you will not be decent, then I will be indecent."

Now the Edinburgh woman has announced she will run for election in a local council by-election.

The contest in the Corstorphine/Murrayfield ward follows the resignation of former Lord Provost Frank Ross and will be held in March.

Miller, a pelvic floor physiotherapist and comic who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, will stand as an independent candidate.

She said: "I am not a career politician. I do not belong to a political party. But I do believe that Corstorphine/Murrayfield needs a strong local champion, one unafraid to stand up to vested interests and speak out for everyone. That is why I am standing for election."

Her 2022 Fringe show Viva Your Vulva: The Hole Story was based around women's reproductive health and performed under the name Gusset Grippers.

Miller, a women's rights activist, attached the pubic wig to tights when she attended the closing sessions of the GRR Bill debate.

She was removed from the chamber after the protest and the bill - now blocked by the UK Government - passed by 86 votes to 39.

A police investigation was launched following complaints about the incident, but was later dropped. Police Scotland said that "no criminality was established".