The National:

THE First Minister and a Scottish sports journalist were among the names to feature on the Mail on Sunday’s 2023 “Woke List”.

According to the newspaper, it featured a number of high-profile people from across the UK which, contrary to what it seemed to be going for, featured a number of “decent and informed individuals” according to one Twitter user.

Alongside the likes of Harry Potter star Emma Watson, journalist and broadcaster Emily Maitlis (below) and Welsh actor Michael Sheen were First Minister Humza Yousaf and Scots sports journalist Eilidh Barbour.

The National: Journalist Emily Maitlis

Yousaf appeared to make the list because of his commitment to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill which the Mail on Sunday said “redefined heterosexuality and homosexuality according to the gospel of the LGBT lobby”.

It added: “Was designed to protect minorities but introduced a chilling range of curbs on freedom of expression.”

Barbour meanwhile made the list due to a comment she made after the England women’s football team beat Norway 8-0 last July.

Her entry on the list said: “The Scots-born Queen of Caledonian virtue-signalling made a point about the squad’s lack of diversity, saying: ‘All starting 11 players and five substitutes who came on to the pitch were white.’

“Many remarked that the team had been selected on ability rather than race.”

Gary Lineker also appeared and said that he was “very honoured to be on such a list” and offered his thanks to the newspaper for showing him “a degree of kindness”.

In spite of the Mail on Sunday’s best efforts, the list didn’t seem to have the effect it intended. 

SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “It should be the ambition of every politician, public servant, entertainer, commentator, faith leader.

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“In fact anybody who cares about their fellow human beings and community to feature on the Daily Mail ‘Woke List’.

Historian David Olusoga also joked about the list, tweeting: “In the hope that it helps me get onto next year’s list can I just point out the lack of diversity in this year’s Daily Mail Woke List.”

Elsewhere, India Willoughby said she was “gutted” she didn’t manage to make the final cut but offered a “well done to those who did”.

One academic also jokingly said he was disappointed at the lack of professors and lecturers on the list.

Meanwhile, one user commented they were “pleased to see” Yousaf and Barbour had made the list.