How the world's top newspapers covered Westminster blocking Scottish gender reform

THE UK Government has announced they will use a Section 35 Order to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from becoming law.

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said he would take the unprecedented step to unilaterally block a piece of Holyrood legislation. The move has already sparked a major constitutional row, and is likely to lead to a court battle.

The National had a look at how the Tories' move to block the Scottish bill was reported in some of the world's international and national publications.

Supporters of the gender recognition legislation rallying outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in December (Image: PA)

USA

The New York Times sent out a breaking news alert on Monday evening, telling some 8.6 million digital subscribers about Jack’s decision. It said: “UK Government blocks Scottish Law making gender change easier."

Their analysis quoted the campaign group Stonewall. The group said it was “saddened” by the British government’s move.

The Wall Street Journal pointed to the long-term ramifications for the independence debate in their report.

The international newspaper said this move will likely "fuel the Scottish National Party’s argument that Scotland’s desires aren’t being represented by the parliament in Westminster and so the Scots should break away from the 316-year union between the two nations".

CNN’s in-depth report dived thoroughly into the gender law, the political background, the Scottish and UK government arguments, and what will come next.

The report quoted Nicola Sturgeon calling the intervention "a full-frontal attack on our democratically elected Scottish Parliament and its ability to make its own decisions on devolved matters".

The multinational news channel further stated that trans groups dismissed Jack’s justification for the use of a Section 35. The Scottish Secretary said he was concerned about its impact on UK-wide equality laws.

Spain

Despite being mostly distributed in Catalonia, La Vanguardia has Spain's fourth-highest circulation among general-interest newspapers.

The paper described Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pressing “the nuclear button”, blocking the trans law approved by “a very large majority by the Parliament of Edinburgh”, from a “trench in Downing Street”.

Rishi Sunak (C) shows Scottish Secretary Alister Jack in Muirtown, near Inverness in Scotland on January 12, 2023 (Image: PA)

It then stated: “In Edinburgh, there is a centre-left government with its frustrations, and in London, a right-wing government with its own. And when it comes to saber-wielding, the meeting point is culture warfare.”

Germany

In Der Spiegel, Germany’s largest news website, readers were told that the Gender Recognition Reform Bill was considered the most controversial piece of legislation in the 24-year history of Holyrood and that the conflict is likely to exacerbate tensions between London and Edinburgh.

Denmark

Denmark’s biggest newspaper Berlingske – which is also among the oldest newspapers in the world – also told its readers that the legal challenge put forward by Jack is expected to lead to an intense political and legal showdown between the two governments.

Italy

La Repubblica, an Italian news publication with a daily circulation of more than 300,000, focused on the controversary fuelled by JK Rowling and groups that support her by quoting their argument to describe the reform in its headline: "Dangerous for women."

France

Le Monde, one of the top French newspapers with a daily circulation of more than 350,000, described the move by the UK Government as a "looming standoff".

The publication says that Jack's Section 35 order "ratchets up London's tense relations with the Scottish government", especially after the Supreme Court judgment in November.