A TORY MSP has warned the Prime Minister that the blocking of Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill would be a “gift to proponents of independence”.
Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering legal advice about whether or not to use UK powers to block the bill which was passed last month by a majority of MSPs.
MSP for the West Scotland region Jamie Greene broke from his party to back gender reform in Scotland.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, seen by The Times, he said: “I fear the UK Government’s rumoured moves to block the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill will set us back years.
“This move could be a gift to proponents of independence who may accuse us of tearing up the devolution settlement.
“It could be a gift to Labour, as we show to LGBT+ people, their friends and their families, that we are happy to leave the centre ground for others as we fail to live up to our promise to govern with compassion.”
This comes as Labour leader Keir Starmer faces backlash from within his own party after he said he had “concerns” about gender reform in Scotland – despite Labour MSPs supporting the legislation at Holyrood.
The deadline for Rishi Sunak to decide whether to block Scotland’s gender laws will arrive on Wednesday.
Greene said that it was not “unConservative” to support the bill and added: “We must not treat trans people as political football.
“Make no mistake. This could also fuel accusations of riding roughshod over devolution. It may also give the SNP-led Scottish Government the welcome gift of a fight.”
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would rather there was no “clash” on the issue as the most important thing was dealing with the impact on trans rights.
Starmer was also asked if he would block the Scottish legislation if he were prime minister and he said he would wait to see what legal advice the UK Government received.
During his visit to Scotland last week, Sunak spoke about the concern he had over the changes the legislation would enact.
