One of Nicola Sturgeon’s ministers has resigned over her opposition to a controversial transgender law just hours before it was due to go to a vote.
Community safety minister Ash Regan said her “conscience” would not allow her to vote with the Scottish government by backing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at its first stage on Thursday evening.
The bill, supported by Ms Sturgeon, will remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria when seeking a gender recognition certificate, so people can change their legal sex simply by signing a declaration.
It will also reduce the length of time an applicant must live as their acquired gender from two years to three months, with an additional three-month reflection period.
The bill aims to lower the age someone can apply for a gender recognition certificate from 18 to 16.
The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was later approved by MSPs at stage one by 88 votes to 33, with four abstentions.
In…
