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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Lucy Garcia

Architect of Johnson's 'war on woke' allegedly behind UK plans to block gender bill

A FORMER advisor to Boris Johnson is reportedly behind the UK Government's response to the passing of gender reform legislation in the Scottish Parliament. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said it is "completely reasonable" for the UK Government to consider taking action to stop Scotland implementing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which MSPs voted through overwhelmingly on Thursday. 

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has even gone as far as threatening to launch a Section 35 order, which would block the Scottish Government from making the bill law despite gender recognition being a devolved issue. 

In the aftermath of the vote in Holyrood, UK equalities minister Kemi Badenoch claimed the Scottish Government had "not addressed the full implications of their bill - especially on the lives of women and girls." 

However, according to The Guardian, former Boris Johnson advisor Dougie Smith is behind the UK Government's response and is seeking to "weaponise" the issue of transgender rights ahead of the next General Election. 

Smith, alongside his wife Munira Mirza - a former policy director in Johnson's Conservative government - was behind the "war on woke" and reportedly pushed for Badenoch to be made equalities minister due to her so-called "anti-woke" views. 

Now, a cabinet source has told The Guardian that Smith is the "puppet master" behind the UK's response to the passing of gender reform legislation in Scotland. 

The same source said Smith was behind the Conservatives strategy to whip up division amongst the general public when it comes to racial and cultural issues in an attempt to appeal to working-class voters in "red wall" seats. 

Smith has reportedly now been tasked with "weaponising" the rights of transgender people before the next General Election. 

Doubts have been expressed about whether or not the UK Government will go as far as issuing a Section 35 order. 

However, one insider said: “It’s a high-stakes game to play. If they do, then the government simply hands over the biggest justification for Scottish independence the SNP will ever get.”

Prior to becoming an advisor in Downing Street, Smith co-founded a company which organised swingers parties for wealthy London socialites. 

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