Scottish Parliament final debate on Gender Recognition Reform today

[ArabellaScott]

At some point after 2pm, in the Big Room (the Chamber).

www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/whats-on-and-watch-live/whats-on#wm

Will be interesting to see how the Amendments go down, if they are all struck down as the ScotGov wishes - www.holyrood.com/news/view,gender-recognition-reform-crunch-vote-after-shona-robison-warns-msps-over-amendments

'the Scottish Conservatives have warned that the debate could lead to a "travesty of democracy" because a 15 minute time limit for each proposal will "shut down" discussion.'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64032916

Ash REgan - intervention - important point we must dbate

Gov position: exemptions still operable. What assessments have gov done on 'chilling effect' on single sex service providers?

SR - in terms of guidance - we will set out guidance - for EHRC to set out guidance to public bodies, on single sex exemptions.

If EHRC has to be reviewed, we will assist them.

Would I be completely mistaken to wonder whether the pickle_bee character worked at the Doctors Bar and left following an incident in which they called the police on a group of women because the women expressed support for women's rights?

SR - no impact to measure form the Bill - any self exclusion will be more likely to be caused from misinformation

she's dismissing Pam Gosal's request to report on impact on funding on single sex spaces

The definitions of sex within the Equality act need to be clarified

tweeting from a supporter of self ID here, btw, for another angle:

twitter.com/pickle_bee

Equality Act does allow single sex spaces even where someone has a GRC. How recent court ruling affects it I’m unsure

Intervention, and subsequent discussion on whether orgs 'use exemptions or choose to be trans inclusive' (S Robison).

SR says we can't dictate to each org what policy is they have to follow guidance and keep themselves on right side of law

Jackie Baillie's amendment - legislation for reserved provisions of EA, serious risk of being outwith legislative competence [- this is all how Scottish law interacts with UK law, as far as I can tell]

If single sex services can exclude males with GRCs why do we have males in womens prisons?

Daniel Johnson intervention - confers rights on individuals based on status defined in law, borrows on definitions in devolved law ... I can't follow this at all, sorry.

SR - if a provision of the bill is subject to legal challenge entire bill would be referred, delayed, and put at risk.

They don't even need a GRC to be moved to the female estate
fairplayforwomen.com/campaigns/prisons/

SR - For members who support this bill - urge members to not support amendments in this group.

J Baillie - substantial issues to consider.

Three Amendments - 130 127 and 111.

Scottish Labour supported at St 1 if significatn improvements were made, specifically wrt women.

Stage 2 we put ref to EA on face of Bill

But continued rejection of Amendments today - we recognise concerns remain, UN inverention - upholding protecions for WAG v important.

We know EA cannot be changed.

Important service providers and public bodies have clarity about obligations.

To provide clarity and reassurance, following amendments:

1. provision of single sex spaces and nothing in this legislation modifies or affects EA - repeats exaclty the languag e in the EA, to emphasise the primacy of the EA that protects single sex spaces. Can exclude TW. If a TW is excluded on basis of reassignment, this would be permissible.

How far through the amendments are we? Is there any chance this could get kicked in to the new year? Why anyone thinks parliament can make good legislation when everything is so rushed is beyond me.

intervention from Stephen Kerr. Talking about women who are victims of dv and MVAWG, chilling effect.

J Baille - that's why we are bringing these amendments, to put beyond doubt

I don't get it - Gov hasn't set out how changing the procedure is weakened by noting existing legislation remains unchanged. They do not interpret the EA, just reference it, word for word.

All I know is that the court ruling said that the definition of 'sex' for the purposes of law doesn't just mean biological sex but also 'legal sex', which would include males with a GRC. That is surely very significant here?!

What about absolute shitshow this is, I'm actually embarrassed for the Scottish government. Words have to be clearly defined in order to make law and policy, you have to know exactly what you are talking about and exactly what every word in a sentence means. Once you start fucking with that, it all just becomes meaningless.

The one good thing I can see coming from this is Labour watching this all unfold and thinking 'shit, maybe this is a can of worms we really don't want to open'.

there's loads to go yet.

I thought they had already voted on all the amendments now? I thought it was about to be passed, I guess not?

JBaillie - Amendment to give clarity and reassurance service providers can continue to exclude TW from single sex spaces

Ruth Maguire intervention - funders also need to know what service providers need to provide

JB - yes, and general public.

Scotgov say that this Amendment puts Bill at risk. I don't see how.

We know the UNCHRC fiasco led to a referal - we know Cab Sec met with Minister for Women and Equalities [Badenoch]

Surely it would have been discussed then?

This reminds me of Brexit and how the UK parliamentary system failed there too.

Governments absolutely should not be allowed to do this.

Sturgeon was one of Boris Johnsons loudest critics with all of the silly games he pulled and now her and her bunch of eejits are trying to thwart democracy and parliamentary scrutiny.

She is no better than Boris Johnson. They are bit from the same cloth.

Lady Haldane's court ruling brought up.

JBaillie - To protect single sex spaces - these provisions are there ,Lady Haldane's judgement doesnt' change that at all.

This Amendment merely states that the EA continues to apply.

[there seems to be suggestion that some of this to and fro is purely political - that Scotgov just won't support Labour Amendments.]

Because the sadistic powers that be care more about the feelings of rapists and nonces than they do about the safety of vulnerable imprisoned women.

JB - Amendment 111 - requires Scotgov to provide Guidance to bodies. Makes clear this shoudl include provision of single sex spaces and circs in which you can exclude.

If Cab Sec assures her Amendment will cover this, I'll drop it.

We repeatedly warn the Scotgov of lack of info - this has been ignored.