The mum of transgender double rapist Isla Bryson has accused First Minister Humza Yousaf’s government of being on an ego trip over gender reform.
Janet Bryson thinks the Scottish Government will lose its bid to have judges review a decision by the UK Government to block the introduction of the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill.
The proposed new laws were brought into increased focus by the case of her son, who was convicted of raping two women while known as Adam Graham but began to identify as a woman before being admitted into a female prison.
The rapist was later moved out of Cornton Vale and in to HMP Edinburgh following a political storm which many critics believe contributed to the resignation of Yousaf’s predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon.
Janet, 63, from Hamilton, told the Sunday Mail: “This legal challenge is an absolute waste of money. The Scottish Government needs to abandon this fight and focus on the issues that are really affecting Scottish people right now. It is nothing more than an ego trip.”
The Scottish Government last week lodged a petition for a judicial review of Scottish Secretary Alister Jack’s use of a Section 35 order to block the bill becoming law.
The UK Government has said it will “robustly” defend its decision to veto the bill – designed to make it easier for people to change their gender.
Bryson, from Clydebank, was convicted in January at the High Court in Glasgow of raping one woman in Clydebank in 2016 and another in nearby Drumchapel in 2019, while known as Graham.
The former DJ had first appeared under his male name but, while on bail, had started to identify as a woman and appeared for trial under the name Isla Bryson.
In February an eight-year sentence was imposed at the High Court in Edinburgh, with a further three years on licence.
Janet, a rape survivor who was attacked when she was 23, has said she was disgusted by Bryson’s crimes.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Isla Bryson case and the GRR Bill are unrelated.
“Challenging the use of Section 35 in this way is the only option to uphold the democratic will of the Scottish Parliament. It is the price of protecting democracy and devolution in Scotland.
“It would be entirely speculative to comment on what the costs and expenses of the challenge would be at this point. Any costs incurred by the Scottish Government will be published in due course.”
Scottish Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton said: “The vast majority of Scots oppose the GRR Bill and the legal challenge.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
