Welsh Labour wants Scots-style gender law

LGBT community ‘used as political tool’, say Tories, as Cardiff parliament looks at following Edinburgh’s lead

THE Welsh Labour government has been accused of “trampling over women’s rights” by asking to introduce Scottish-style trans laws to make it easier to change gender. The devolved administration has unveiled an LGBTQ+ action plan that aims to allow people to selfidentify their gender without having to apply for a special certificate, and for passports and driving licences to recognise non-binary people.

The government in Cardiff also wants to ban conversion therapy, which tries to dissuade people from changing their gender. At present, the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, does not have powers to legislate on equality issues.

Under the action plan, the government will “initiate conversations” with Westminster so it can be granted the powers. But Downing Street, which has already said it will block similar legislation put forward by the Scottish government, last night indicated it would deny Wales the powers it needs due to fears for the “safety of women and children”.

Cardiff ’s plan is also opposed by campaigners who say that allowing anyone to “self-identify” could damage women’s rights in female-only spaces.

Wales-women’s Rights Network said the Welsh administration was being “tone deaf to events in Scotland” and that it was another government “prepared to trample over women’s rights”.

The Welsh Conservatives have accused Labour of using gay and trans people as a “political tool” in their bid to snatch more power from Westminster.

Altaf Hussain, their equalities spokesman, said: “We have seen the chaos that the SNP have brought about with devolved powers and now Labour ministers are seeking to do the same.

“Members of the LGBTQ+ community deserve our respect, support and understanding; they don’t deserve to be used as a political tool by Labour ministers in a bid to secure more powers.”

Stonewall Cymru welcomed the proposals, but said “we shouldn’t be complacent”.

The document, drawn up as part of an agreement between the Welsh government and Plaid Cymru, said it would “trigger” a request with the UK Government to devolve powers related to gender recognition.

Last month, No 10 said it would block legislation put forward by the Scottish Government that would make it easier for people north of the border to change their legally recognised gender.

It said the draft law would conflict with protections afforded by equalities legislation in force across Great Britain.

Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, has said the country should have a gender self-identification system, similar to the one approved in Scotland.

Hannah Blythyn, the deputy minister for social partnership, said she felt the plan was “ambitious but with hope at its heart”.

She added: “We are absolutely committed to meaningful change for LGBTQ+ communities, creating a society and country where LGBTQ+ people are safe to live and love authentically, openly and freely as ourselves.”