Telegraph: Rishi Sunak set to block Nicola Sturgeon's trans law tonight

[ResisterRex]

This is the reporting from their live blog:

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/01/16/rishi-sunak-strikes-nurses-news-latest-keir-starmer-brexit/

"Rishi Sunak is to block Nicola Sturgeon's controversial gender reforms after receiving clear legal advice that they would undermine women's rights, the UK Government is set to announce tonight.

The Telegraph understands that Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, is set to tell the First Minister on Monday evening that he will issue a Section 35 veto to prevent the law, which was passed at Holyrood in December, from coming into force.
The move is certain to spark yet another bitter constitutional row between Ms Sturgeon's SNP administration in Edinburgh and the UK Government.
Ahead of the announcement, the First Minister said a block would amount to using trans people as a "political weapon". The Scottish Government is almost certain to seek to overturn the veto in the Scottish Courts.
However, UK Government lawyers have advised that the Bill, which would allow people as young as 16 to self-identify their legal gender, "cuts across" UK-wide legislation on equalities.
Mr Jack is expected to write to Ms Sturgeon, the Commons speaker and Holyrood's Presiding Officer informing them of his decision to invoke Section 35 of the Scotland Act.
The measure, seen as a "nuclear option", has never been used before in the history of devolution.
He is then due to formally lay the Order in the Commons tomorrow, and expand on his reasons for doing so. It is expected that Mr Jack will address the Commons in a statement on Tuesday."

Fantastic news, the Tories seem to value women.thank you Rishi

I’m not a fan of Rishi but at least he knows what a woman is! Labour are still fudging as per usual on protecting women and children.

That is big news Rex. I do hope it doesn’t come with a kicker of conversion therapy being accepted as being left open to interpretation though.

I don't believe he's doing it because he cares about women and girls. I think it's because it's a clear way to put one over on Sturgeon and the Scottish devolved Parliament. Nevertheless I will be pleased to see this if it happens. I still can't believe the madness that saw this whole thing pushed through like it was some kind of urgent national security measure.

I really hope this happens! I’m in Scotland and have never cited Tory but they are the only party who care about women.

If true, it's good news. The conversion therapy Paul Brand "exclusive" still needs careful watching, I agree.

Step by step though.

First this and then force the debate about conversion therapy to define it better so it cannot be abused where therapy that is exploratory can get targeted.

Just had confirmation from BBC that they are blocking the bill!

Fantastic!

Please Lord, I don't ask for much so let this be 🙏

That’s great news

UK government to block Scottish gender bill
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64288757

Well done

Takes political willpower as will bite them back a bit

Worth it though

I do wonder if this was all done deliberately - put up a Bill they know will get struck down just so they can point and shout about “Evil Tories” in an effort to get more people behind another referendum.

Well goodness.

I, too, am suspicious about motivation. But regardless, this is a very good thing.

I thought this as well. They may not even have wanted it to go through that strongly anyway.

Praise be, some sanity enters the arena.....

Sunak is using this opportunity to pretend he cares about women's rights. Interestingly it appears that in polling terms this action is not popular - it alienates more people than it appeals to and Sunak is acting against the advice of the Tories' own elections advisors - but this is about appealing to the RW base in the party.

Leaving aside whether Sturgeon's law is the right approach to take, overruling the Scottish parliament is undemocratic.

I hope it’s true! I’ll be following this thread

Yes. I think this is recognised as deliberate SNP tactics.

And Sturgeon is doing the same but the other way around.

It's always been a win-win for her, using the rights of women and girls to play politics while cloaking herself with the Teflon "progressive" shield.

There are not enough swear words to convey how much I despise that woman and if the Tories are the ones that save our rights so be it, I don't much care what their motives are just as long as something is done to stop this happening.

I remain cautious about what the payoff might be but for now, thumbs up.

I don't understand it all but the legal commentary is fascinating.

It's also fascinating that so many TRAs seem to show themselves up questioning the lawyers.

Any response against the UK govt stopping the bill seems to be emotive and not based on reality or even ant attempt to understand why.

Sturgeon Interview in the BBC is completely expected. Blame, blame, blame someone else. Its her mo. It's all she knows.

Yes to all of this. On the face of it, good that Scottish women won't have to deal with the consequences of this foolish piece of law making. But how infuriating that stopping it is to do with electioneering and a right wing culture war, and not because it is the right thing to do to protect the rights and safety of women.