UK government to block Scottish Gender Reform Bill

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Rishi Sunak's government is set to block controversial 'gender identity' reform laws passed by Holyrood, in a move Nicola Sturgeon calls a "frontal attack" on the Scottish Parliament.

Ministers said the bill would have a "chilling" effect on single-sex spaces, including schools, and a negative effect on other protections such as equal pay.

Different gender recognition regimes north and south of the border would also risk "more fraudulent or bad faith claims", the government said,

The decision has led to accusations of using trans people as political football and fears the decision will lead to increased support for Scottish independence.

Mrs Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister, has sworn that her government would defend the legislation, warning: "If this Westminster veto succeeds, it will be the first of many.

She called the move a "frontal attack on our democratically elected Scottish Parliament ".

This is the first time that Westminster has used Section 35 powers which prevent a Scottish Bill from going through Royal Assent.

The Secretary Scottish Alister Jack said those who go through the process to change their legal gender “deserve our respe ct, our support and understanding”.

He insisted his ruling concerned "the impact of the legislation on the operation of Britain-wide equality protections and other reserved matters".

He added: "I have not taken this decision lightly. The Bill would have a significant impact on, among other things, equality issues across Great Britain Britain to Scotland, England and Wales. I have therefore concluded that this is the necessary and correct course of action.

“If the Scottish Government chooses to return a project amended Bill for reconsideration in the Scottish Parliament, I hope we can work together to find a constructive way forward which respects both devolution and the workings of UK Parliament law.”

All Politicians Conservatives do not support the government's decision.

Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene recently wrote to Mr Sunak urging him not to intervene.

In a letter he wrote that the move "would be a gift to independence supporters who might accuse us of tearing up the rulebook." t of devolution" and said the government should "not treat trans people like political football".

Three Tory MSPs voted for the bill in December.

Last weekend, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer also waded down the row saying that 16-year-olds should not be able to legally change their gender.

The new law would allow people as young as 16 to obtain gender recognition...