'Gender law row is Scotland's get-out'

NICOLA STURGEON has “picked a fight” with Westminster over gender reforms to show why Scotland should pull out of the UK, a constitutional expert has warned.

- David Williamson

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Scottish First Minister are heading for a showdown in the courts over a law to make it easier for people to change their legally recognised sex in Scotland. The UK Government will use its de facto veto on Scottish legislation for the first time due to concerns about the impact on equality laws in Britain.

The stand-off comes after the UK Government refused to grant the SNP permission to host an independence referendum, backed by a Supreme Court ruling.

Alan Trench, who has contributed to major research on the future of the UK, warned that Scottish ministers wanted to boost the case for independence.