'Rishi Sunak should respect trans rights and uphold devolution in the UK'
| Published date | 13 January 2023 |
| Publication title | Daily Mirror, The: Web Edition Articles (London, England) |
In some ways it’s a small change. All the law does is allow trans people from the age of 16 to apply to have the sex on their birth certificate changed without bureaucrats and doctors who are not trans having to give permission.
But for trans people it is also so important. It respects the fact that they know themselves better than anyone else. It means they can get married joyfully, be buried with dignity, and live day to day lives that are a little safer.
This is a change with resounding democratic support – it was passed by 84 – 39 votes, with support from MSPs in all parties. It was a change promised at the last Scottish Parliamentary elections in the manifestos of not just the Government parties of SNP and Greens, but also the Labour and Liberal Democrat opposition parties. The Scottish people entrusted their parliament with a democratic mandate, and indeed a duty, to pass the GRR Bill.
This isn’t just a matter of trans people’s rights, getting this law onto the statue books is a fundamental part of the devolution settlement and respect for democracy.
To block Royal Assent for the Bill – which Rishi Sunak ’s cabinet is said to be considering this week – would be a huge and calamitous move. In more than 23 years the UK Government has never used its powers to block legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament. To do so over a piece of legislation that affects such a small minority, a bill that has been through such extensive scrutiny, would significantly undermine devolution settlement.
It’s an overstep that could have implications not just for trans people, but for the future course of the United Kingdom.
As the Prime Minister is in Scotland this week to meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, exploring the ways in which Westminster can work better with the devolved institutions, a great start would be to respect the will of the Scottish Parliament by scrapping all talk of a challenge to the bill and instead working to see what England can learn from the Scottish experience.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford came out...
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