Westminster has dragged trans people into its attack on Scotland’s powers

A protest against the UK government’s blocking of the Scottish gender recognition reform bill outside Downing Street, London, 18 January 2023. Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

This week the UK government has made an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act to veto the gender recognition reforms passed by the Scottish parliament. Tuesday’s announcement by the Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, is harmful to trans people, who have waited long enough for improvements to the gender recognition process as – contrary to some claims being made – this legislation has been long proposed, consulted on and debated.

Indeed, it has been a manifesto commitment in the past two Holyrood elections, and has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the electorate on both those occasions. Being forced to consider the prospect of legal action before those changes can be enacted raises further uncertainty.