LONDON (HRNW) – Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Monday any move by London to block Scotland s gender reform bill would be an “outrage” as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepared to use his constitutional powers to block the legislation.
This would be the first time the British government has used its powers to bar a law passed by the Scottish parliament, setting up a clash with the semi-autonomous Scottish government.
A decision is expected in the next two days with Sunak leaning towards blocking the legislation, according to officials in the Conservative government who asked not to be named. Any such move would likely be subject to legal challenge.
“I think it would be an outrage,” Sturgeon told reporters at a briefing, adding that it would be “using trans-people who are already one of the most vulnerable, stigmatised groups in our society as a political weapon”.
In December, Scotland became the first part of the United Kingdom to approve a self-identification process for changing gender, including removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and lowering the minimum age to 16 from 18.