The UK Government will move to block a gender recognition law passed by the Scottish Parliament due to concerns over the impact on UK-wide equalities legislation, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said. The UK Government will invoke a Section 35 order under devolution legislation to stop the law from getting Royal Assent.
This means the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Act cannot become law. The Act was designed to make it easier for people to change their legally recognised sex.
But London says it will have an adverse effect on the law in the rest of Britain, particularly the Equalities Act 2010 and how this law manages single sex spaces for women.
The UK Government’s move sets up a huge constitutional clash between Holyrood and Westminster besides the impact it will have on people who want to change their legally recognised sex.
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