Stand up for women

MR Sunak has clearly decided to adopt a more placatory attitude towards Nicola Sturgeon than his predecessors.

The chippy SNP leader was branded an ‘attention seeker’ by Liz Truss and there was no disguising her loathing for Boris Johnson. But however cordial their first meeting, the PM must not flinch from torpedoing her divisive transgender law.

Ms Sturgeon’s dangerous Bill – passed with Labour’s help – makes it easier for any male aged 16 or over to self-identify as a woman (or vice versa) and have the law treat them as such across the country.

Campaigners rightly fear that abusive men could exploit it to invade female-only spaces – putting women and girls at risk. Because the reforms will affect UK legislation, Mr Sunak can block them under the Scotland Act. He must.

True, that risks a constitutional clash with the SNP, which will bleat that an antidemocratic Westminster is thwarting the will of the Scottish Parliament.

But as 80 per cent of Scots oppose it, the Bill itself hardly respects democracy.

Mr Sunak must take this opportunity to stand up for his beliefs – and create clear blue water between the Tories and Labour.

The UK Government is meant to protect the rights and safety of everyone in these isles – not just a tiny, vociferous band of trans extremists and their woke bedfellows.