NICOLA Sturgeon seems intent on passing controversial gender reform laws this year, no matter the cost to the safety of women and girls.
As part of the Scottish Parliament committee that has scrutinised the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill, I have spent the past few months listening to all the evidence. I have reflected on the arguments. I have examined closely what this bill would do.
I have submitted amendments to the GRR Bill in light of the legitimate concerns of women and religious groups, who oppose this bill not on ideological grounds but for practical reasons. As drafted, this bill contains a litany of serious flaws that would create real issues for women who have suffered sexual or domestic violence, as well as women from BAME backgrounds who may feel that the bill impacts on how they practice their chosen faith.
But it seems the SNP do not want to hear the legitimate practical concerns that people across Scotland have about this bill. Instead, they are pushing forward to try and pass a potentially dangerous gender reform law before Christmas.
If the SNP demonstrated the same determination and haste to build a ferry as they are showing to pass the GRR Bill, we would have a fleet of ships fit and ready to sail at docks up and down the Clyde.
The last time that the SNP rushed laws through so speedily, we got the unworkable Hate Crime Act. When they last proceeded to pass legislation with this level of arrogance, we got the Named Persons Bill that was struck down by the courts. As drafted, the SNP’s gender bill is headed down the same sorry path at those subpar laws.
Women’s concerns are being ignored. We are not being heard. Almost every concern that we raise is dismissed out of hand.
The government has overlooked the valid concerns of women’s organisations in Scotland and the legitimate fears of international experts too.
I recently met with Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls. We had a very useful and productive discussion about the GRR Bill and the flaws in it. It was beneficial to hear first-hand from an expert like Ms Alsalem and I am very thankful to her for agreeing to speak with me.
But the SNP have only agreed to formally hear evidence from her at the Equalities and Human Rights Committee at the last minute, on the day before the final stage of this Bill is set to begin in Parliament.
Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t appear to be making decisions on this issue with the goal of making a good, workable law. It seems more and more that this is all about enforcing the SNP’s political ideology on Scotland, even in the face of considerable opposition from women across the political spectrum.
That breadth of opposition might be the real legacy of this bill. The people raising concerns about this bill are not solely Conservative or SNP, unionist or nationalist. The bill has brought together women with all different kinds of views.
That is the only unity that Nicola Sturgeon has achieved with this legislation. She has divided the country - but united women against her dangerous plans.