UK PM may block Scottish gender law, says government review ‘perfectly reasonable’

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his government would review Scotland’s new transgender law, saying it was “perfectly reasonable” and he could block the bill.

“A lot of people have concerns about this new bill in Scotland, about the impact it will have on the safety of women and children,” Sunak said. “So I think it is perfectly reasonable for the UK Government to look at it, find out what the implications are for the safety of women and children in the rest of the UK and then decide what the appropriate course of action is.”

The Scottish National Party (SNP) adopted a new gender recognition laws it would allow residents aged 16 to change their legal gender by signing a declaration after three months – or three months for 16- and 17-year-olds – instead of two years.

Critics say the bill will challenge single-sex spaces and create problems for women and girls, according to FRANCE 24, but the Scottish government insists the bill will not conflict with the UK’s Equality Act, which allows transgender people to be excluded from certain single-sex spaces.

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Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticized the previous system as “intrusive, traumatic and dehumanising”.

The Telegraph noted that under section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, Westminster can ban Scottish legislation if it believes it has an “adverse effect” on laws that otherwise fall under the jurisdiction of the British Parliament.

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Sturgeon signed the bill into law on Thursday and Sunak made his comments on Friday. Experts worry the move could add to already high tensions between the Scottish Government and the British Parliament.

New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives at Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, after returning from Buckingham Palace, where he was officially installed by Britain’s King Charles III.
(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Parliament refused to even entertain a second independence referendum for Scotland, which tried and failed to gain independence in 2015.

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Scotland’s Social Justice Minister Shona Robinson responded to Sunak’s comments, saying the Scottish Parliament planned to “vigorously challenge” any attempts by Westminster to “undermine the democratic will” of the Scottish government.

The SNP did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment by the time of publication.