Westminster Blocks Scottish Gender Reform Bill for First Time Ever
Historic Section 35 Order Stops Gender Recognition Reform
In a first for UK politics, the Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has wielded the rare Section 35 power of the Scotland Act 1998 to block a Scottish bill from becoming law. The target? The controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which the Scottish Parliament passed last December.
The bill aimed to make it easier for Scots to legally change their gender, including lowering the minimum age for applications to 16. But Westminster has slammed the brakes, refusing to grant Royal Assent.
Sturgeon Slams Westminster “Attack” on Scottish Democracy
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned the move as a “full-frontal attack” on Scotland’s rights to govern devolved matters. She vowed the Scottish government will fight to defend the legislation and the parliament’s powers.
“If the Westminster veto is successful, it will be the first of many,” Sturgeon warned.
Public Opinion Divided on Gender Recognition Reform
Polls reveal a nation split on the issue. A 2021 Survation survey of 1,028 Scots found 53% opposed letting transgender people self-declare their gender without a medical diagnosis.
Meanwhile, a BBC-backed Savanta ComRes poll showed 57% supported making gender recognition easier, yet most opposed lowering the age from 18 to 16. The same poll showed 40% of Scots backed self-identification, while 37% were against it.
As tensions rise between Edinburgh and London, Scotland’s biggest constitutional clash over transgender rights has only just begun.
