Open to abuse? UN questions Sturgeon’s gender reforms

The United Nations has criticised Nicola Sturgeon’s gender reform plans for teenagers – saying they could put the safety of women at risk.

Reem Alsalem, the UN’S special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said the proposals could “open the door for violent males who identify as men to abuse the process”.

In a letter to James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, Ms Alsalem said the Scottish Government’s plans lacked “clarity” on how people applying to change gender would be checked. Daniel Martin