17 January 2023 - Rishi Sunak blocks Scotland’s gender recognition legislation
Rishi Sunak blocks Scotland’s gender recognition legislation
Pippa Crerar and Libby Brooks (The Guardian, 16/01/2023)
Rishi Sunak’s government has blocked legislation passed by the Scottish parliament that would make Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce a self-identification system for people who want to change gender.
The Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, announced that he would use section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 for the first time to halt the gender recognition bill after a review by UK government lawyers.
Sunak in constitutional clash with Sturgeon over gender reform bill
George Parker and Lukanyo Mnyanda (The Financial Times, 16/01/2023)
Rishi Sunak was locked in a constitutional clash with Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, on Monday after the UK government for the first time moved to block legislation passed by the Scottish parliament. Alister Jack, Scottish secretary, on Monday wrote to Sturgeon to inform her that he was stopping a bill to make it easier for people to legally change their gender from gaining royal assent, with the backing of the prime minister.
Scotland gender bill: What next for Sunak and Sturgeon?
James Cook (BBC News, 17/01/2023)
Just last week Rishi Sunak was joking with Nicola Sturgeon about stealing the chips that came with her steak at dinner.
The prime minister was said to be on a charm offensive as he visited the Highlands for private talks with Scotland's first minister.
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
(The Scottish Parliament)
The Bill changes the process to get a gender recognition certificate (GRC). A GRC is a certificate that legally recognises that a person’s gender is not the gender that they were assigned at birth, but is their “acquired gender”.
The current process for obtaining a GRC is set out in the Gender Recognition Act 2004. This Bill amends that Act to make a new process in Scotland.