THE Scottish Greens have called for the next UK government to lift the “undemocratic and discriminatory” Westminster veto against the Gender Recognition Reform Bill ahead of Edinburgh Pride.
The party’s equalities spokesperson, Maggie Chapman – who is due to speak at Edinburgh Pride on Saturday – called for an end to the “disgraceful culture wars” which she said were an attack on “basic rights” and “devolution”.
Chapman called on all pro-devolution parties and candidates to "stand up" for trans rights and commit to lifting the veto.
Chapman (below) said: “Gender Recognition Reform was one of the most scrutinised bills in the history of the Scottish Parliament. It was supported by MSPs from all parties, including the vast majority of SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs.
“The Act should be in effect right now, with trans people benefiting from the basic rights that we voted for. Instead, we have seen even more disgraceful culture wars and hostility towards the community, all cynically stoked and fuelled by some of the most powerful people in the country.”
The Gender Recognition Reform Bill was passed by MSPs in 2023 by 86 to 39 but was later blocked by the UK Government’s use of a Section 35 order.
In the Scottish Greens manifesto – published on Wednesday – the party pledged to put pressure on the UK Government to improve equalities and human rights law, and that it would be putting pressure on the new Scotland Secretary “to immediately allow the legislation to proceed”.
Chapman continued: “Lots of countries already use self-identification. The decision to block the reform was a calculated and cruel political stunt by a bigoted Tory government that has never seen a minority group that it didn’t want to punch down on.
“With the curtain finally coming down on 14 years of Tory rule, a new government must end the hostility and lift the veto.”
Chapman said that everyone “deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be recognised for who they are”.
“Gender Recognition Reform has always been a small and simple step towards doing that,” she added.
“The Tory veto was a disgraceful attack on those basic rights, but also on devolution. One man should not be able to, single handedly, block a legitimate law passed by our democratic parliament. It set a terrible precedent and sent the message that our parliament could be ignored or overruled on a whim.
“There is a moral responsibility on every single candidate and party that supports human rights, equality and devolution to commit to lifting the block and supporting the rights of trans people and our parliament.”
