CALLS for Lorna Slater to be removed from her ministerial role after she criticised people with “anti-trans views” are a “wild overreaction”, Patrick Harvie has said.

The Greens co-leader made the assertion at the party’s manifesto launch in East Kilbride, after Slater was probed on her comments by journalists during a Q&A.

Brian Whittle, a Tory MSP for the South Scotland region, accused the Greens minister of “radical extremism” as she described elements of the trans rights debate as “disgusting”. Alba also wrote to the First Minister, accusing Slater of having breached the ministerial code.

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It comes as the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) is currently undergoing scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament after the draft bill was laid for the second time just a few months ago.

Slater had told The Herald on Sunday that she believed funding had come from the American right-wing to fuel attacks on the UK's trans community.

The minister for circular economy also compared the “hideous” wider trans debate here to “ridiculous bathroom laws” in America, which have seen transgender people banned from using facilities corresponding to their gender identity.

The issue was brought up at the Greens launch, with Harvie asked if he agreed with calls for Slater to lose her ministerial role.

The National: Harvie said calls for Slater to stand down were an "overreaction"Harvie said calls for Slater to stand down were an "overreaction"

Harvie (above) said: “Clearly not.

“I’ve seen some rather wild overreactions. Lorna was very clear that transphobia is unacceptable and compared it to other forms of prejudice which is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, and if we do want to have the respectful debate that has been called for then we should recognise that transphobia doesn’t have a place in it.”

Harvie was asked if bigotry against transgender people is an “acceptable form of prejudice” as many don’t truly understand the issues.

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He replied: “There are certainly people who feel that they don’t know quite what language to use or feel unclear about some of those issues, but that’s the case with every form of prejudice.

“As we tackle prejudice on a range of different grounds there are always some people who understand that that’s the right thing to do but aren’t quite sure how they should talk about it.

“And sadly there are always a few people who are openly spreading prejudice and causing confusion, so that’s happened on pretty much every other aspect of the fight for equality and human rights over the years.

The National: Scottish Green co leader Lorna Slater during a photocall beside the Wallace Monument at the Stirling Court Hotel ahead of the Scottish Green Party conference. Picture date: Friday March 11, 2022..

“It’s happening again, we should face down genuine prejudice and have a respectful debate with those who simply want to understand more about the topic.”

Slater (above) was asked about her comments at the manifesto launch by the Daily Mail.

She responded: “There’s broad consensus in Scotland that there is no place for transphobia.

“We should not be giving platforms to bigotry and hatred.

“Of course we’re looking forward to respectful discussion around the GRA reform and that’s what we’ll be doing in parliament.”