Scotland’s gender reform bill has been blocked by the government in an unprecedented intervention described by Nicola Sturgeon as a “full-frontal attack” on the Scottish parliament

It will be the first time a Section 35 order has been used to prevent a Scottish bill from becoming law. Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, has issued an order under Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, preventing the Scottish Parliament’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from receiving Royal Assent. The Scottish parliament passed the law in December, making it easier to change gender and lowering the age limit to 16. “This is a full-frontal attack on our democratically elected Scottish Parliament and its ability to make its own decisions on devolved matters,” Ms Sturgeon responded. The Scottish government will defend the legislation and advocate for the Scottish Parliament. If the Westminster veto is successful, it will be the first of many.” A Survation poll conducted in 2021 for analysts Blackburn Hunter Mackenzie found that a majority (53%) of Scottish voters oppose transgender people declaring their own gender without a medical diagnosis. This poll had a sample size of 1,028 Scottish residents. Another poll conducted for the BBC by Savanta ComRes found that 57% of Scots supported making it easier to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate, though a majority opposed lowering the age from 18 to 16. According to the same poll, more than 40% of people supported self-identification, while 37% opposed it.