{"id":121929,"date":"2023-12-10T10:00:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T10:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leviolonrouge.com\/?p=121929"},"modified":"2023-12-10T10:00:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T10:00:49","slug":"humza-yousaf-must-now-admit-defeat-over-gender-recognition-bill-says-snp-rival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leviolonrouge.com\/politics\/humza-yousaf-must-now-admit-defeat-over-gender-recognition-bill-says-snp-rival\/","title":{"rendered":"Humza Yousaf must now admit defeat over gender recognition bill, says SNP rival"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Humza Yousaf must not prolong the legal battle over Scotland’s gender reform law after the controversial legislation was ruled by the UK\u2019s Supreme Court to be illegal, Kate Forbes, the woman he narrowly defeated to become Scotland\u2019s First Minister, has said. Mr Yousaf claimed devolution was “fundamentally flawed” after the Court of Session’s ruling that the UK Government had acted lawfully in using a Section 35 order (S35) of the Scotland Act to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from gaining royal assent.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Friday, he vowed to take time to consider the judgment. However, Ms Forbes underlined the growing splits within the party when she told him it was now time to admit defeat, warning any appeal could “exacerbate” divisions rather than heal them.<\/p>\n

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the Scottish Government\u2019s former Finance Minister, who edged out by Mr Yousaf earlier this year, said: “I previously argued that Scot Gov shouldn’t contest S35 unless there was a very high chance of success. A loss for Scot Gov would obvs absorb public funds but could embolden future UK Govs to interfere in devolution, which no party of independence wishes to see.”<\/p>\n

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP added: “Most worrying, it has created a period of great uncertainty and fear for trans people and women and girls, deepening already bitter divisions. All politicians must heal divisions not exacerbate them. That means listening.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe priority should now be to give security and clarity to trans people and to women and girls. I urge the Gov not to prolong the legal battle further.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have confidence in our citizens and democratic processes to safeguard rights of everybody in a reformed Bill if we listen to all.” Ms Forbes has urged the First Minister to work with MSPs to develop a “reformed” Bill that works for campaigners on both sides of the argument.<\/p>\n

The legislation is intended to simplify the process for transgender people to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) and officially change their legally recognised sex. The legal challenge cost the Scottish Government around \u00a3230,000 and ministers now have three weeks to decide whether they want to appeal against the decision at the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

In her ruling, Lady Haldane, who presided over two days of evidence in September, said the Scottish Government’s petition “fails”, dismissing arguments from Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain that Scottish Secretary Alister Jack launched the never-before-used power because of a policy disagreement. She also agreed that reserved equality laws would be altered by the Scottish legislation because it would mean the GRC would be altered by removing the gender dysphoria diagnosis.<\/p>\n

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