Sunak Blocks Scotland’s Transgender Bill, Angering Nationalists

  • Decision is first time UK government has vetoed Scottish law
  • Legislation makes it easier for people to self-declare gender

Rishi Sunak

Photographer: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak blocked transgender rights legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament, setting up a major constitutional row and fanning nationalist sentiment in Scotland.

Sunak’s administration said on Monday that the Scottish legislation — which makes it easier for transgender people to self-declare as a different gender from the one they were assigned at birth — would have an “adverse impact” on Great Britain-wide equalities legislation.