Trans spat between UK and Scottish governments could have been avoided
SNP and Green politicians want to improve the lives of trans people in Scotland. The rules on how people can change their legally recognised gender are inflexible and out of date.A majority of MSPs yesterday voted in favour of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill despite a flood of objections from women’s groups.
But just as supporters of reform were celebrating, the UK Government threw a spanner in the works.Tory ministers have suggested the Bill may be incompatible with equalities laws – a matter reserved to Westminster.
The UK Government is now reviewing the legislation and could challenge it – or even refuse to allow it to go forward for Royal Assent.If that happens, the Bill would be effectively rendered useless despite the hours of parliamentary time devoted to it.
Opponents of GRR had warned it could impinge on UK equality laws, so this cannot have come as a complete surprise to the Scottish Government.The legislation has already stirred strong emotions and there is now a risk it could have been all for nothing.
