In 1994 McAlpine co-authored a book on the history of the anti-poll tax campaign, A Time to Rage, with the political activist Tommy Sheridan.

[15][16] The email was later leaked and Lythgoe publicly apologised for making unsubstantiated allegations, with the Labour Party stating that this was a result of an SNP "dirty tricks campaign" against Davidson and calling for an investigation.

"[18] In March 2012, McAlpine compared Scotland's place in the United Kingdom with a woman in an abusive marriage with a domineering man and stated that rival political parties were behaving in a sexist and misogynistic manner.

[19] Labour MP Margaret Curran said: "Comparing the United Kingdom to an abusive marriage is absurd and offensive to men or women genuinely trapped in that kind of relationship.

[20][21] In February 2014 McAlpine referred herself to the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer after concerns were raised that she had broken Parliamentary rules while claiming expenses.

[22] McAlpine had invoiced the taxpayer for £1750 after she employed landscape photographer Jane McLachlan for ten days to take shots for her constituency publications.

[22] She was later cleared of any wrongdoing and Derek Croll, head of financial resources at Holyrood, concluded: "The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body considered a report on the matter at its meeting this morning.

I am writing to inform you [Joan McAlpine] that, on the basis of the report and annexes presented to the corporate body, the SPCB determined that there was no evidence that a breach of the rules of the scheme has taken place.

[29] Prior to the debate, the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee, of which McAlpine was the convenor, published a "highly critical" report, decrying the lack of consultation with women's groups and stating that this had led the NRS to conflate sex and gender identity.

[29] Speaking during the Stage 3 debate of the Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, McAlpine quoted Simone de Beauvoir, criticising the fact that "Stonewall's trans umbrella includes people with no medical treatment who refute the contention that they have a psychological condition" and stated that she "reject[s] the concept of innate gender identity".