Nadia Whittome has voiced her concern over Rishi Sunak’s plans to block new Scottish gender laws.
The bill would make Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce a self-identification system for people who want to change gender.
UK ministers met on Monday to consider how to approach the bill and are concerned about how the bill will have an “adverse impact” on UK-wide equalities law.
Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East said in house yesterday: “The reason why the government can’t tell us exactly what the conflict is with the Equality Act is because there isn’t one.
“The Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill does not affect the operation of the Equality Act.”
I voted in opposition to the government blocking gender recognition reform in Scotland.
The Tories are using trans people as a political football, and undermining devolution in the process.
I stand in solidarity with the trans community. We must reform the GRA across the UK.
— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) January 17, 2023
The Bill was blocked by royal assent and represents a significant escalation of tensions around the issue.
A spokesperson for Nottingham against Transphobia believes that ‘the Tories have admitted to being defeated.’
They said: “The government will have far reaching and lasting consequences as even their own MP’s question the wisdom of tarnishing already strained relations with Scotland.
“While this may appear to be a sign of strength by overriding the Scottish Parliament, it’s really an act of weakness from a party desperate to distract from their other many failings.”
“even their own MP’s question the wisdom of tarnishing already strained relations with Scotland”
Spokesperson for Nottingham against Transphobia
Nicola Sturgeon has said there was “no grounds” for the UK government to block the legislation.
The use of section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 for the first has been announced by Scottish secretary Alister Jack.
Ms Whittome added: “Will the minister admit what this Section 35 order is really about and that is fanning the flames of a culture war that is harming Trans people across the UK.”
