An SNP MSP who quit the Scottish Government over its gender recognition Bill has claimed Nicola Sturgeon was "well aware" of her concerns.
Ash Regan spoke out today after the First Minister previously said she had not been contacted about the MSP's doubts.
The MSP also said the proposals would not protect women and insisted SNP members should have had a free vote.
The Bill aims to speed up the time it takes to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) and lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16.
Ministers also want to drop the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and the need for a doctor’s report.
But critics have panned the proposals as a threat to women’s sex-based rights, with Harry Potter author J.K Rowling a staunch opponent.
Ahead of a vote at Holyrood last week, Regan quit as Community Safety Minister after citing “conscience” issues.
The SNP whipped their MSPs on the vote and nine members of the group rebelled.
In her first appearance at Holyrood since her resignation, Regan made a statement to the media about her decision:
“I got into politics, a few years ago now, because I felt that we needed more female politicians in the Scottish Parliament. I also feel, as a parliamentarian, it’s really important that I am able to speak up on issues that are crucial and important for women.
“As a minister, I tried to improve the justice system for women, and that was in work such as the women’s justice leadership panel and also on developing a Scottish model for challenging demand for prostitution.
She added: “And I deeply regret that I will not be able to continue in that work. My belief, and my commitment, to building a better Scotland for all of us, but especially for women and girls, is what drives me as a politician. It drives my politics, it drives me as a person as well.
“I think the vote, for the SNP, should have been a free vote. I think healthy debate is important. I think that robust challenge is, after all, how we create good law. And I think that actually that’s a strength and it’s not a weakness.
“We know that in many areas of life women are discriminated against and so rightly they have legal protections in place, and I was not convinced those legal protections could continue to be upheld. And my conscience would not allow me to vote for a Bill where I could not be 100% certain where women and girls would not be in danger.
“But I want to be really clear on this point. I am not against reforms that make the lives of trans people better, but I want us to get into a place where we can respect everybody’s rights.”
She was also asked about the First Minister’s claim that she had “at no stage” approached her with concerns.
Regan shot back: “The First Minister was well aware of the concerns that I held on this issue.”
She made her statement while SNP MSPs met for their weekly group meeting upstairs.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “A Minister who considers they cannot comply with collective responsibility should approach the First Minister to discuss the issue.
“Ms Regan was free to do so – at any stage from her accepting appointment as a Minister, in full knowledge of Scottish Government policy on this issue, up until the parliamentary vote last week – but chose not to.
“Ms Regan’s concerns were well known, publicly and privately, and the First Minister’s letter does not say she was unaware of Ms Regan’s views.
“Rather, the letter makes clear that at no point did Ms Regan make use of the well-established practice by which any Minister can approach the First Minister when they have a difficulty. Nor did she make use of the specific facility to meet with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice on this issue, as other MSPs have done.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
