Dundee West MP Chris Law has criticised the UK Government over its latest attack on Scottish devolution, following a decision by the Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack to enact a Section 35 order and block the passage of the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
The decision will be the first time in the Scottish Parliament’s 24 years that the UK Government have used a Section 35 order to block a new law.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the Scottish Government is likely to call for a judicial review in response. The Gender Recognition Reform Bill passed comfortably in the Scottish Parliament in December last year by a vote of 86 for to 39 against.
Chris Law MP said:
“The UK Government’s unprecedented decision to enact a Section 35 and block this Bill is an attack on our elected institutions and I am deeply concerned that this opens the door for further vetoes on devolved matters.
“In 2014, the Tories signed up to promises to respect and strengthen devolution in Scotland, but their recent decisions have only acted to undermine our Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government.
“They have proven time and again that they are willing to test the waters in pushing against devolution in Scotland. We should all be worried about what this means for Scottish democracy and the ability of our elected Scottish Government to act on devolved matters.”
Chris Law 