Sturgeon knew I was opposed to gender reforms, says rebel MSP hailed a ‘heroine’ by JK
AN SNP minister who resigned rather than vote for gender recognition reforms insisted Nicola Sturgeon was ‘well aware’ of her concerns over the Bill.
Ash Regan dramatically quit as community safety minister to oppose the SNP Government’s plans to make it easier for trans people to legally change gender.
In response to her resignation, which happened just minutes before MSPs started debating the proposed reforms last week, Miss Sturgeon claimed her colleague had not spoken to her to express her opposition to the Bill.
The First Minister’s frosty letter to her former minister stated: ‘At no stage have you approached me... to raise your concerns.’
But Miss Regan declared: ‘The First Minister was well aware of the concerns that I held on this issue.’
Harry Potter author JK Rowling hailed Miss Regan as a ‘heroine’ for her stance against the Bill.
The former minister was one of nine MSPs to defy the party whip and either vote against or abstain on the proposed legislation, although it was passed by 88 votes to 33. She told journalists she feared women and girls could be put ‘in danger’ as a result of the SNP’s proposed changes.
Stressing that she was ‘not against reforms that make the lives of trans people better’, she added: ‘We know that in many areas of life women are discriminated against and so, rightly, they have legal protections in place.
‘I was not convinced that those legal protections could continue to be upheld. My conscience would not allow me to vote for a Bill where I could not be 100 per cent certain that women and girls would not be in danger.’
In a dig at the SNP’s perceived iron fist on party discipline, Miss Regan argued that the SNP should have allowed a ‘free vote’.
However, with the SNP demanding its MSPs fall in behind the government position, Miss Regan chose to leave the government – and lose her £30,351 yearly bonus for being a minister – rather than support the controversial plans.
Her action was praised by Miss Rowling, who has previously tweeted a photograph of herself wearing a T-shirt calling the First Minister a ‘destroyer of women’s rights’.
The author said: ‘This is what a principled politician looks like.@ AshtenRegan will rightly be seen as a heroine when future generations of Scottish women look back at the profoundly misogynistic legislation currently being pushed through by the Sturgeon government.’
Miss Regan’s colleague Ruth Maguire, who also voted against the Bill, yesterday ramped up the party infighting, criticising MP Alyn Smith after he suggested those who failed to back the Government would be given a ‘torrid time’ by their local party. She said: ‘Too many female parliamentarians face abuse and threats of violence, it’s incumbent on all of us to think carefully and do better.’
Scottish Conservative equalities spokesman Rachael Hamilton said: ‘Ash Regan has made it
‘FM was aware of my concerns’ ‘Staying true to her principles’
abundantly clear she believes she made Nicola Sturgeon fully aware of her concerns over this Bill, in complete contrast to the First Minister’s version of events.
‘The former SNP minister should be applauded for staying true to her principles and resigning ahead of the vote last week.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘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.’