Gender law could lure sex offenders to Scotland, claims former First Minister

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A former Labour First Minister has claimed new gender recognition proposals could lure sex offenders to Scotland.Lord McConnell also called for a three month pause on the Bill so that a summit could address concerns.The SNP/Green Government’s Bill aims to simplify the process for a person to obtain a certificate for changing their gender.Provisions include removing the requirement for a medical diagnosis and replacing it with a system of so-called “self-ID”.Critics believe the Bill, which will have its final vote on Wednesday, could allow predatory males to access single sex spaces like women’s refuges and rape crisis clinics.McConnell, First Minister between 2001 and 2007, wrote in the Sunday Times: “There are really serious concerns about safe spaces for women, especially those facing and dealing with the trauma of abuse, violence and rape.”He also claimed there could be an “incentive” for predatory male sex offenders to come to Scotland, identify as female, and access female only spaces.He added: “I support reform of gender self-identification to help those facing real difficulties in their personal lives , but the Scottish parliament must pause the final decisions on this bill.“There should be a summit with open debate that engages those with genuine worries, and makes appropriate changes to make sure women are safe in Scotland.”Defenders of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill counter by saying the new system would not impact on single sex services and accuse the critics of alarmism.An initial vote on the Bill in October led to 9 SNP MSPs failing to support the Government.Holyrood sources expect the Bill to pass, but accept divisions in the SNP and Labour are inevitable.To sign up to the Daily Record Politics