Labour would not entertain any Scottish government request to overturn the UK veto on Scotland’s gender recognition reform bill, which was imposed by the Conservatives last year.
Speaking to reporters in Scotland, Sir Keir Starmer said: “There will be no change of position on that — there is a lot to learn on gender ID from the way it’s been dealt with here in Scotland.”
The Scottish bill, passed in 2022, would have streamlined the process of changing a person’s legal gender, including removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
Scotland’s highest court last year ruled the Conservative government’s block had been lawful. The court had found that the law did not comply with the equality act, the primacy of which is “very important,” said Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour.