20 days for new FM to challenge GRR block
The new first minister will have just 20 days to challenge the UK Government’s block on its gender reform laws.
The Sunday Mail can reveal they’ll have until April 18 to lodge a judicial review over the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill.
Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes or Ash Regan will be announced as SNP leader tomorrow but one of their first major decisions when appointed first minister on Wednesday will be the Bill.
The legislation was passed by Holyrood in December and makes it easier for trans people to change their recognised sex.
In January, Scots Secretary Alister Jack used a Section 35 order to stop the Bill from becoming law.
He invoked the “veto” power, which came into force on January
18, insisting the legislation would have a detrimental impact on UK equalities laws.
Yousaf previously said he wouldn’t challenge the order if not backed by legal advice. Yesterday he said: “I’m the only candidate ready to stand up to Westminster power grabs and vetos.”
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes didn’t respond but previously said: “If there is no alternative to court, I’ll go to court.”
Regan, who quit as community safety minister in protest at GRR, said: “I don’t believe public funds should be used to argue for legislation the public don’t want.”
The Scottish Government would need to prove the Scots Secretary lacked “reasonable grounds” for believing the Bill would have an adverse impact on how the law operates with respect to reserved matters.
Colin Macfarlane, of LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall said: “We urge the next first minister to focus on positive strategies that support LGBTQ+ communities to thrive.”
Jack urged the next FM not to pick fights with the UK Government. He said: “We can achieve more by working together.”
The Scots Government last night refused to say if it had legal advice on taking forward a challenge, saying it would set out its next steps “in due course”.