Nicola Sturgeon has branded Alister Jack a "Governor-General" as the war-of-words between Holyrood and Westminster over gender reforms continues.
The First Minister will use a speech in Glasgow tonight to launch a fresh attack on the UK Government's decision to block the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) bill.
Jack, the Scottish Secretary, confirmed this week he will issue a Section 35 order to prevent the controversial reforms from becoming law.
The SNP leader will claim the Dumfries MP is like a governor-general as he has treated "the Scottish Parliament as a subordinate body and deciding which democratic decisions and laws to veto".
A Scotland Office source said: "Cheap personal attacks like this are unworthy of the First Minister."
The decision to issue a Section 35, never used before in the history of devolution, came despite a majority of MSPs from across the parties at Holyrood voting in favour of the legislation last month.
At a dinner hosted by the pro-independence Business for Scotland group, Sturgeon is expected to say: "This week we’ve entered a new and more dangerous phase for devolution.
"The Tories have broken cover. The stealth attacks have been joined by a full-frontal assault – the decision of the Tory Government to strike down a law clearly within devolved competence which was passed overwhelmingly in the Scottish Parliament, and which was supported by MSPs from all parties.
"Through his actions the UK Government Secretary of State for Scotland is demonstrating he is sadly, not interested in working in partnership. He’s decided to act like a Governor-General: treating the Scottish Parliament as a subordinate body and deciding which democratic decisions and laws to veto.
"There may have been a time when, for some people, Westminster decision-making – even if it meant constraining devolution – might have seemed a price worth paying in exchange for economic stability and prosperity.
"But nothing could be further from the truth – Westminster is undermining the Scottish Parliament, and Westminster is undermining the Scottish economy. And just as the attack on the Parliament is accelerating, so is the Westminster hit to the economy.
"Westminster control means the worst of both worlds – a weaker Scottish Parliament and a weaker economy. In fact, the result of decades of Westminster economic mismanagement is now becoming clear, not just for Scotland but for the UK a whole.
"Those failures were taking hold before Brexit – but Brexit will make them much worse."
A UK Government spokeswoman said: "We raised a number of concerns relating to the impact of the Scottish Government’s proposals with Scottish ministers, as part of our constructive approach, in advance of the legislation passing.
"The Secretary of State for Scotland has made an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, preventing the Scottish Parliament’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from proceeding to Royal Assent.
"This was done after thorough and careful consideration of all the relevant advice and the policy implications. This legislation would have an adverse impact on the operation of Great Britain-wide equalities legislation.
"Transgender people deserve our respect, support and understanding. Our decision is about the legislation’s consequences for the operation of GB-wide equalities protections and other reserved matters."
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
