Rishi Sunak denies blocking gender reforms as part of Holyrood power grab

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Rishi Sunak has denied that Scottish gender laws were blocked as part of a power grab by Westminster.The Prime Minister said that the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was blocked because it "would have a significant adverse effect on UK-wide equalities matters".Sunak also said during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday that the Scottish Secretary Alister Jack made the Section 35 order "with regret".He added later on that the Scottish Parliament "is undeniably one of the most powerful devolved legislatures anywhere in the world" and that he wants "to engage in a dialogue with the Scottish Government to ensure that we can find a constructive way through."This was the first time that Sunak had spoken about the blocking of the bill since it was announced on Monday.Jack made a statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday confirming the Section 35 order.

This was followed by an emergency debate on the topic.This is the first time the UK Government has used a Section 35 order to strike down an act of the Scottish Parliament since the devolution era began in 1999.The Scottish Government is expected to demand a judicial review of the decision.Sunak was asked by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn during Prime Minister's Questions if he realised "that it is a dangerous moment for devolution when both he and, indeed, the Leader of the Opposition seek to overturn a promise made between Scotland’s politicians and Scotland’s people."The Prime Minister replied: "Let me be crystal clear: the decision in this case is centred on the legislation’s consequences for reserved matters. "This is laid out in the Scotland Act 1998, which established the Scottish Parliament — the honourable Gentleman talks about that and, at the