Gender Recognition Reform Bill: Theresa May disappointed Scotland changes not considered for England

Former prime minister Theresa May has admitted she is disappointed the gender recognition changes passed in Scotland were not being considered for England.

With Prime Minister Rishi Sunak heading for a potential constitutional clash with Nicola Sturgeon's administration in Scotland over gender recognition reforms, Mrs May said she was disappointed that similar changes were not being weighed up south of the Border.

Holyrood passed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill on Thursday, making it easier for trans Scots to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC), but the UK Government has threatened to block it.

Mrs May had put forward plans to enable transgender people to change their birth certificate without a medical diagnosis, but they were ditched under her successor Boris Johnson.

Theresa May during her time as UK prime minister. Picture: Justin Tallis/WPA Pool/Getty Images

"The very fact that I put the proposal forward shows that that was something that I thought was important to do, particularly to take some of the medical aspects out of this," she told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.

"But the Government has looked again at it and has taken the decision that it has."

On the constitutional issues raised by the Scottish legislation, Mrs May said: "We have different legal systems.

"Obviously, there's a different system in Scotland, but I think it is important when any part of the UK is looking at legislation that only affects that part of the UK, that thought is given to what the impact would be on the Union.

"But at the end of the day it is about people, and it's about the impact it would have on people."

Ms May has said the Tories must show people they are "on their side" to win the next general election.

The former prime minister backed Mr Sunak to turn around the party's fortunes as he tries to repair the damage done by predecessor Liz Truss.

Labour has enjoyed comfortable opinion poll leads over the Conservatives in recent months, but the ex-premier said Mr Sunak could restore her party's reputation for economic competence and salvage the position.

"There's no doubt that the mini-budget had an impact on the Conservative Party's reputation for sound money and sound public finances," she said.

"But I think what we've seen already with the new Chancellor and a new Prime Minister is taking the process of re-establishing that reputation.

"And I think from everything we've seen from Rishi so far, that actually he's going to be able to turn that round by the next election.

"I see that we can in those two years show people that a Conservative government can be on their side and that he can turn it round and we can win that election."