The Scottish Tory leader argues the Bill undermines women’s rights and needs revision for UK-wide consistency.

Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, has expressed strong support for the UK Government’s decision to block Scotland’s controversial Gender Recognition Reform Bill, stating that the legislation poses significant risks to women’s rights. His comments come after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack confirmed the UK Government would exercise Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, a rare move to halt the bill from advancing to royal assent.

Ross, MP for Moray, contends that the Bill was hurriedly pushed through the Scottish Parliament by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a move he believes does not align with the views of most voters in Scotland. “A majority of voters are against the reforms,” Ross argued. “They can’t understand why Nicola Sturgeon rushed it through Parliament without sufficient consultation or consideration.”

The Scottish Tory leader is particularly concerned that the Bill, which seeks to make it easier for individuals to change their gender legally, would have a detrimental impact on the UK-wide Equality Act. He raised alarm over provisions in the legislation that would allow people to obtain gender recognition certificates after just three months of living in their new gender, instead of the current two-year requirement. Additionally, the Bill reduces the age limit for gender recognition from 18 to 16, which Ross believes is another significant concern.

Ross stressed that he supports the UK Government’s intervention as a necessary step to ensure the Bill is revised to protect women’s rights and is consistent with the rest of the UK. “We need legislation that works across the entire United Kingdom,” he explained. “At the moment, people could travel from other parts of the UK to Scotland to change their gender with minimal checks in place.”

The UK Government’s decision has sparked strong reactions. Stonewall, a leading LGBTQ+ charity, accused Westminster of using the “nuclear option” by invoking Section 35, arguing that the move undermines Scotland’s devolved powers and could create constitutional tensions.

In contrast, Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray called for cooperation between both the Tory and SNP governments to address the legitimate concerns surrounding the Bill. He urged a focus on reducing prejudice, including transphobia and misogyny, while ensuring the rights of all individuals are protected.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary, Shona Robison, condemned the UK Government’s intervention as an attack on trans rights and democracy. The Scottish Greens echoed this, with Maggie Chapman warning that blocking the Bill sets a dangerous precedent for Scotland’s devolved powers.

Despite the backlash, Ross remains firm in his stance, believing that a revised Bill that addresses these concerns would better serve both trans rights and the wider public.