SNP’s trans bill could spark ‘gender tourism’ to Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon‘s Bill making it easier for people as young as 16 to change gender without seeing a doctor could lead to gender tourism to Scotland and transgender people demanding the same rights in England, it emerged today.

The vote in Edinburgh yesterday sparked huge protests and puts MSPs on a constitutional collision course with Westminster where there are deep concerns about the ‘divergence’ in gender laws across the UK.

UK ministers are plotting how to prevent trans people from across the UK heading to Scotland for as little as three months so they can self-identify as male or female without a diagnosis from a doctor.

There are also fears biologically male Scottish prisoners in English jails could now demand to be placed in women’s prisons. And Scottish transgender women could demand access to single-sex spaces in England such as toilets, changing rooms and domestic abuse refuges.

Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton said the gender Bill would ‘let criminal men exploit the system’ and put women in jeopardy when in single-sex spaces.

In theory someone could rent north of the border for as little as three months and legally change their gender without a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria after Ms Sturgeon slashed the timescale for adults obtaining a gender recognition certificate from two years.

The UK Government is preparing to step in after Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch wrote to Nicola Sturgeon warning her that it was ‘not possible’ for the legislation to be ‘fully contained’ within Scotland. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack issued a statement yesterday after the Bill cleared Holyrood saying he was considering blocking it from becoming law.

She said ahead of yesterday’s vote: ‘I am concerned about the impact [of] having divergent regimes in the different parts of the UK’.

Government sources told The Times that that they feared the new law could be used to allow biologically male Scottish prisoners in English jails to demand to be placed in women’s prisons.

Scottish transgender women could also demand their new rights are mirrored in England, such as access to female-only spaces.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has also warned that there could now be an impact on sex discrimination laws across the UK, including equal pay.

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed yesterday to jeers of ‘shame on you’ in Holyrood.

Westminster has signalled it will not accept Scottish transgender certificates south of the Border.

The SNP’s Bill lets a person ‘self-identify’ as transgender without medical checks, lower the age limit to legally change gender from 18 to 16 and cut the time a trans person would need to ‘live’ in their acquired gender before switching.

The UK Government is so concerned about ‘divergence’ in gender laws across the UK that it is set to overhaul how foreign transgender people from other countries can legally change gender in England and Wales so Scotland does not claim to be discriminated against.

UK Government sources said to stop people travelling to Scotland to obtain a gender certificate more easily and travelling back to England, they are hoping to update the entire list of approved countries to exclude some of those which allow self-ID.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack warned that he was considering blocking the Bill completely.

Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP administration said it would ‘vigorously contest’ any such move.

But Mr Jack said: ‘We share the concerns that many people have regarding certain aspects of this Bill, and in particular the safety issues for women and children.

‘We will look closely at that, and also the ramifications for the 2010 Equality Act and other UK-wide legislation, in the coming weeks – up to and including a Section 35 order stopping the Bill going for royal assent if necessary.’

Kemi Badenoch, minister for women and equalities, has raised concerns about the impact of the legislation.

A source close to her said she ‘didn’t believe the Scottish Government had considered the full impacts of this Bill – particularly on women and girls’.

The insider added: ‘She shares the strong concerns raised by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, and other civic groups and ministers regarding the impact this Bill will have on the functioning of the Equality Act, which is designed to protect all UK citizens.’

Under the Scotland Act, the UK Government can challenge devolved legislation if it feels it affects national security or reserved matters.

Gender recognition is a devolved matter, but the Government is concerned about the impact of the Bill on equalities laws which are the preserve of Westminster.

The Bill has also provoked fears that abusive males could take advantage of the new quicker and easier system to change gender with critics, including the author JK Rowling, warning that ‘all a man needs to ‘become a woman’ is to say he’s one’.

Any action to block the legislation, expected to come into force next year, would be unprecedented – and would likely be subject to judicial review. Ministers have four weeks to decide whether to intervene.

Such an attempt would probably also be jumped on by First Minister Ms Sturgeon’s independence push. The Scottish Government vowed to challenge any attempt to stop the Bill, which had the backing of Scottish Labour, becoming law.

A spokesman said: ‘The Bill as passed is within legislative competence, and was backed by an overwhelming majority, with support from all parties.

‘Any attempt by the UK Government to undermine the democratic will of the Scottish Parliament will be vigorously contested by the Scottish Government.’

The legislation sets Scotland apart from the rest of the UK – where applicants for a gender recognition certificate (GRC) must be 18 or over and have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Obtaining one allows an individual to change their gender on legal documents such as their birth certificate, but it can also affect their entitlements to benefits and pensions.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which argued the existing legal framework had the correct balance, called for clarity on the cross-border implications of the law.

It said: ‘We urge the Scottish and UK Governments to work together to minimise the risk of uncertainty around the potential cross-border implications we previously raised with them, as a matter of urgency now the Scottish Parliament has passed these reforms.’

The commission said it ‘might be difficult for trans people with Scottish GRCs to be certain of their legal status and rights’ and there could be challenges for employers and service providers in England and Wales.

It is unclear whether any GRCs issued in Scotland would be recognised in England.

The Bill, which passed by 86 votes to 39, has been one of the most controversial in Holyrood since devolution, and debates have been hit by protests.

Opponents interrupted proceedings yesterday as social justice secretary Shona Robison brought the debate to a close. There were cries of ‘shame on you’ from the public gallery after the final vote.

Ms Robison told MSPs: ‘Trans rights are not in competition with women’s rights, and as so often before, we can improve things for everyone when those discriminated against act as allies, not opponents.’

Ms Sturgeon’s government has insisted the legislation will not affect the Equality Act, which allows for trans people to be excluded from single-sex spaces such as changing rooms.

But she has faced opposition from her own party and from women’s rights campaigners.

Nine SNP MSPs rebelled, including former minister Ash Regan who resigned over the issue. Two Labour MSPs voted against their party whip.

Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton said the Bill had ‘shown this Parliament at its worst’.

She added: ‘In the rush to make the process a little easier for trans people, the Government is making it easier for criminal men to attack women. That’s the problem here.’

Miss Hamilton also said the gender Bill, which she claimed would be a ‘legacy issue for the First Minister’, would ‘let criminal men exploit the system’ and put women in jeopardy when in single-sex spaces.

Labour MP Rosie Duffield, a staunch defender of single-sex spaces for women, said they had now ‘lost the fundamental right to always expect protection’.

She added: ‘The women who will be most affected are those women in prison, women who are the victims of sexual violence and those already most vulnerable, powerless and at risk. It is the most basic job of all politicians to protect those people.’

Reem Alsalem, the UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women, told members of Holyrood’s equalities committee the plans could see violent men exploit loopholes ‘to get into women’s spaces and have access to women’.