Shona Robison confirms gender reform appeal to be scrapped
dailyrecord.co.ukDeputy First Minister Shona Robison confirmed any further legal challenge to recent rulings on the controversial gender recognition reform will be scrapped, but pledged to “robustly defend” the Scottish Parliament.Speaking to BBC Scotland’s The Nine on Wednesday evening, Ms Robison said the move to drop any further appeals was a “difficult decision” and that the Scottish Government had looked “very carefully” at the outcome.It comes after the Court of Session dismissed an appeal against Westminster’s decision to override MSPs and axe the Gender Recognition Reform bill last week.Ms Robison told the BBC the UK Government’s evocation of a section 35 order to overturn the bill and prevent it from becoming law was “outrageous”.The legislation had attempted to simplify the process for transgender people to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) and officially change their legally-recognised sex.But the UK Government ruled it could have an adverse impact on equalities legislation across the UK.“We took all of the factors in the round, around what the case and what the prospects of the case would be, as well as all the other considerations and the impact indeed on the trans community.“So, we’ve made that decision for all of the reasons that we have set out,” Ms Robison said.She added: “The point here is that Scotland’s democratic institution overwhelmingly supported a piece of legislation that is within devolved competence.“And because the UK government and the Secretary of State for Scotland didn’t like it, he thought he could ride roughshod over the democratic wishes of this Parliament.”The Deputy First Minister said the Scottish Government was concerned about a “pattern of behaviour” and said that any future attempts
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