British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said his government will review Scotland’s new transgender law, saying it is “completely reasonable” and could block the bill.
“Many people are concerned about this new bill in Scotland, about the impact it will have on the safety of women and children,” Sunak said. “So I think it’s entirely reasonable for the UK government to look at it, understand what the consequences are for the safety of women and children in the rest of the UK and then decide what the appropriate course of action is.”
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has passed new gender recognition laws that would allow residents up to the age of 16 to change their legal gender by signing a declaration after three months, or three months for 16 and 17-year-olds, instead of two years.
Critics say the bill will challenge single-sex spaces and raise issues for women and girls, according to FRANCE 24, but the Scottish government insists the bill will not contradict the UK’s Equality Act, which allows the exclusion of transgender people from certain single-sex spaces.
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Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon listens after addressing a United Nations conference, Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Baby Matthews)
(The Associated Press)
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticized the previous system as “intrusive, traumatic and dehumanizing”.
The Telegraph noted that under Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, Westminster can ban Scottish legislation if it believes it has an “adverse effect” on laws that would otherwise fall under the jurisdiction of the British Parliament.
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Sturgeon signed the bill into law on Thursday and Sunak made his comments on Friday. Experts are concerned that the move could increase tensions between the Scottish government and the British Parliament.
Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives at Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, after returning from Buckingham Palace where he was formally appointed to the post by Britain’s King Charles III.
(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Parliament has refused to even consider a second independence referendum for Scotland, which tried and failed to win independence in 2015.
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Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary Shona Robinson responded to Sunak’s comments by saying the Scottish Parliament plans to “vigorously rebuff” any attempt by Westminster to “undermine the democratic will” of the Scottish government.
The SNP did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital at press time.
