The UK government has decided to block a controversial Scottish bill designed to make it easier for people to change their legal gender.
UK ministers say the draft law would conflict with equality protections applying across Great Britain.
It is the first time a Scottish law has been blocked for affecting UK-wide law.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the move a “full-frontal attack” on the Scottish Parliament and vowed to oppose it.
She said the Scottish government would “defend” the bill, warning if the veto succeeded it would be the “first of many”.
The UK government’s Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, who will take the legal steps on Tuesday to confirm the veto, said he had “not taken this decision lightly”.
In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, he said the bill would have a “significant impact” on GB-wide equalities law, citing the impact on single-sex associations and clubs and rules on equal pay.
He added that UK ministers would “work together” with the Scottish government if agreed to bring forward an amended bill.
The announcement was greeted with fury by Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison, who called the decision to block the bill “outrageous”.
She added that the move showed the UK government’s “contempt for devolution,” calling it a “dark day for trans rights and a dark day for democracy in the UK”. (BBC)
