OPPOSING gender reform in Scotland would be an “own goal for Unionists” that could end up helping the SNP win independence, a senior Tory MP has warned.
Michael Fabricant, a fierce Boris Johnson loyalist who has sat in the Commons for thirty years, claimed that gender reform could be a “political trap” for his party.
The comments came in response to a tweet listing the countries which already have “self-ID” mechanisms in place, allowing trans people to legally change their gender without a medical intervention.
“Spain and Scotland are following Denmark, Norway, Portugal, France, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, and Iceland – as well as a host of South American countries – in passing gender recognition reform,” GB News presenter Tom Harwood had written.
“Missed off significantly 10 US states, four Canadian provinces, 20 Mexican states, two Australian states, and New Zealand.”
Responding to the tweet, Fabricant warned: “Gender recognition could be as big a political trap for the Conservatives as when, in Opposition, they voted against the minimum wage. #stupid”
Only this time, we won’t just be helping #Labour but the #SNP and independence for Scotland too. An own goal for the #Unionists. https://t.co/9i0coYGAEM
— Michael Fabricant 🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@Mike_Fabricant) December 27, 2022
The Tory MP added: “Only this time, we won’t just be helping #Labour but the #SNP and independence for Scotland too.
“An own goal for the #Unionists.”
It comes after several ministers in Rishi Sunak’s London government suggested it could block the Scottish parliament’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill before it is given royal assent.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack suggested he may invoke section 35 of the Scotland Act, which gives him an effective veto on laws he believes impact on reserved matters.
Conservative Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch also said the UK Government was “looking at provisions that can prompt reconsideration” of the reforms.
Sunak himself (above) said: "Lots of people have got concerns about this new bill in Scotland, about the impact it will have on women’s and children’s safety, so I think it is completely reasonable for the UK Government to have a look at it."
The bill, the Scottish Government says, will have no impact on the exemptions or the wider Equality Act – which is reserved to Westminster.
It passed by a margin of 86 votes to 39 with cross-party support. The Tories were the only party which had a minority of MSPs back the legislation.
Dunja Mijatovic, the commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, welcomed the passage of the bill.
“I welcome Scotland’s new law adopted by the Scottish Parliament introducing legal gender recognition based on self-determination,” she said.
“Nine Council of Europe member states have already adopted such laws and several others have this under consideration. A key trend for the full realisation of trans people’s human rights.”
