Blocking Scotland’s gender bill is no anti-woke crusade. But it’s not a democratic outrage either

Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon, January 2023. ‘Sunak has taken every opportunity to appear reasonable, and to offer cooperation not conflict.’ Photograph: Simon Walker/NO 10 Downing Street/Reuters

Many will see Rishi Sunak’s decision to stop Scotland’s new gender recognition bill from becoming law as both bigoted and brutal. Bigoted because it halts a bill that makes it easier for a person to change gender. Brutal because it blocks a bill that has been agreed by Scotland’s devolved parliament.

Let’s be clear that there is some truth to this view. Some Conservatives would love a crusading unionist confrontation with Nicola Sturgeon’s nationalist government. They would especially welcome weaponising an issue such as the gender recognition bill, where public support for change is cool, and on which the Labour party is divided.