SNP government 'likely' to be charged Westminster's £150k legal fees over failed gender court challenge

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The UK Government is likely to charge Holyrood for its £150,000 legal fees after a failed court challenge on gender reforms.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is understood to be leaning in favour of the unprecedented move which would see the Scottish Government costs for the court battle reach almost £400,000.

Scottish ministers confirmed they have spent £230,000 already on the failed court case over the UK Government’s block of Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) act.A ruling by the Court of Session on Friday deemed the UK Government acted lawfully but First Minister Humza Yousaf is now considering whether to appeal the decision.This could bring the total court costs close to £1m for both Holyrood and Westminster - a bill which Holyrood could have to pay if ministers lose another appeal.Sources close to the UK Government said that asking Holyrood to pay the legal fees would be unusual given it has never happened before but ministers feel that the Scottish goevrnment “overstepped” when they passed the law.A Scottish Goverment source branded the move “petty” and said: “That would be a typically petty position for the Tories to take but if they did go down that road we could ask to be reimbursed for Scotland’s share of nearly £300m - and rising - costs of the absurd failing UK Government proposal to disregard human rights laws and shunt asylum seekers to Rwanda.”The latest row comes as former Finance Secretary and SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes MSP urged Yousaf not to appeal the court ruling.Writing on social media yesterday the SNP politician said: “I previously argued that Scot Gov shouldn’t contest S35 unless there was a v high chance of success.“A loss for Scot Gov would obvs absorb public funds but could