Gender Recognition Reform Bill: Theresa May Disappointed Scotland Changes Not Considered For England
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is heading for a potential clash with Nicola Sturgeon's administration in Scotland over gender recognition reforms, Mrs. May said she was disappointed that similar changes were not being considered in England.
Holyrood passed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill on Thursday, making it easier for trans Scots to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC), but the UK Government has threatened to block it, The Scotsman reports.
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Former PM Mrs. May had put forward plans to enable trans people to change their birth certificate without a medical diagnosis, but they were ditched under her successor Boris Johnson.
“The very fact that I put the proposal forward shows that that was something that I thought was important to do, particularly to take some of the medical aspects out of this,” she told BBC Radio 4's PM program. “But the government has looked again at it and has taken the decision that it has.”
On the constitutional issues raised by the Scottish legislation, Mrs. May said: “We have different legal systems. Obviously, there's a different system in Scotland, but I think it is important when any part of the UK is looking at legislation that only affects that part of the UK, that thought is given to what the impact would be on the Union. But at the end of the day it is about people, and it's about the impact it would have on people.”
Ms. May has said the Tories must show people they are “on their side” to win the next general election.
The former prime minister backed Mr. Sunak to turn around the party's fortunes as he tries to repair the damage done by predecessor Liz Truss.
Labour has enjoyed comfortable opinion poll leads over the Conservatives in recent months, but the ex-premier said Mr. Sunak could restore her party's reputation for economic competence and salvage the position.
“I see that we can in those two years show people that a Conservative government can be on their side and that he can turn it round and we can win that election.”
Read related myGwork articles here:
Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill Passes First Stage
UN Backs Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reforms
Survey Finds 80% Of LGBTQ+ People Want The Gender Recognition Act Reformed
Nicola Sturgeon Confirms Gender Recognition Reform Back On Legislative Agenda
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