Scottish Greens: Next UK government must lift block on gender bill

Scottish Labour backed the Gender Recognition Reform bill when it was passed at Holyrood.

But the party has now come under pressure after UK leader Sir Keir Starmer appeared to shift his position on transgender rights in Thursday’s BBC Question Time election special.

That appearance led to JK Rowling criticising Labour for “abandoning” women over its stance on the rights of transgender people.

Writing in the Times,, external the Harry Potter author said she would struggle to vote for Sir Keir Starmer, saying she had a “poor opinion” of his character.

The former Labour donor said the party under Sir Keir’s leadership has a “dismissive and often offensive” approach to women’s concerns.

Labour said it was “the party of women’s equality, with a manifesto that puts women front and centre”.

Speaking on the general election campaign trail in Glasgow, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said it was clear that the Scottish legislation was not compliant with UK law.

He said: “We’ve been very clear throughout this process that when we supported the legislation it was on the basis that it would not negatively impact on the equality act.

“That was the cast iron guarantee given by the SNP government which has now not proven to be the case.

“The tragedy in all of this is that, since the passing of that legislation, our trans community feel no more protected and women feel no more reassured.

“And that is why we want a process that removes the indignities of that process but still protects single sex spaces based on biological sex.”

Mr Sarwar added that he was “more than happy” to have a conversation with JK Rowling in order to try and convince her to support the Labour Party.

He said that he had “a lot of respect for” the Harry Potter author and that he was “proud” of the backing she had previously given Labour.