SNP minister demands Alister Jack ditches Section 35 order blocking Holyrood gender reforms

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The SNP minister who spearheaded gender reforms through Holyrood has demanded the UK Government ditches its opposition to the legislation.Shona Robison, the social justice secretary, has urged Tory ministers to revoke the Section 35 order which is preventing the Gender Recognition Reforms (GRR) Bill from becoming law.She claimed such a move would "show the UK Government is serious about improving the lives of trans people and respecting Scottish democracy".Alister Jack confirmed this week that Westminster would make a Section 35 order to prevent the GRR Bill from going forward for royal assent.Nicola Sturgeon branded the move a "full-frontal attack" on the Holyrood Parliament and its ability to pass legislation on devolved matters.Robison has now called on Jack to revoke the Section 35 order - branding his actions “fundamentally disrespectful”.The UK Government has urged Scottish ministers to bring forward amendments to the legislation, with Mr Jack saying this could provide a “constructive way forward” in the latest stand-off between the two governments.But Robison claimed UK ministers had not asked for any changes when the Bill was being considered by Holyrood.She said: "At every stage of the Bill’s progress and development, the Scottish Government kept the UK Government informed through normal routes of engagement."At no point did they ask to amend the provisions in the Bill – neither during the extensive periods of public consultation nor during the drafting and parliamentary stages."The Scottish Parliament was treated the same way and did not hear from the UK Government during the passage of the Bill."Put bluntly, this was a one-way conversation up until the final moments this Bill should have gone for royal assent