John Swinney urged to 'finally bring to an end era of divisive gender politics'

John Swinney has been urged to “finally bring to an end the era of divisive gender politics” following a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

The Scottish Conservatives called on the First Minister to “ditch Nicola Sturgeon’s toxic legacy” and guarantee all public bodies will have new policies in place to “respect women’s rights” by the summer.

The party’s leader Russell Findlay said the Scottish Government must “own its mistakes”. It comes after judges unanimously ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equality laws.

First Minister John Swinney | PA

The judgment is expected to have far-reaching consequences, particularly around the access of transgender people to single-sex spaces and services.

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During First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Findlay said SNP politicians had been willing to “trash women’s rights while pushing their dangerous and divisive ideology”. He called on Mr Swinney to “finally apologise to the women of Scotland”.

Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government accepted the judgment of the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court ruled that women in the Equality Act 2010 is defined by biological sex, and the Government accepts that ruling,” he said.

“I also accept that the court emphasised that this decision does not reduce trans people’s protections from discrimination, whether or not they have a gender recognition certificate.”

Mr Findlay replied: “For John Swinney, it seems that sorry really is the hardest word to say. And we know why, because he’s not sorry.”

He said trans prisoners must now be removed from female jails. Mr Swinney said ministers were considering the details of the Supreme Court judgment and all public bodies must operate within the law.

He was later pushed on when the Scottish Government would issue fresh guidance on single-sex facilities, and said this would be developed “in a timely manner”.

Mr Findlay said: “The SNP’s focus on radical gender ideology hasn’t just impacted on prisons, it has damaged trust in politics. It showed Holyrood had lost the plot and Nicola Sturgeon was detached from reality.

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“John Swinney has got a chance to be his own man and go a different way from his closest ally, who isn’t even showing up at work any more. He could guarantee all public bodies will have new and lawful policies to respect women’s rights in place by summer.

“He could be honest and admit that trans women are not women. He could hold his hands up and apologise fully and sincerely. John Swinney could ditch Nicola Sturgeon’s toxic legacy once and for all.

“Will he now take the chance to finally bring to an end the era of divisive gender politics?”

Mr Swinney said: “My Government will do what it always does: follow the rule of law, take careful account of the decisions and the context in which we take our decisions, and act wisely to protect the rights of all within Scotland.

“Because the first duty of the Government is to protect the rights of everyone in Scottish society.”

SNP ministers had been due to meet with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Thursday, but this was postponed because the body wants to sit down with the UK government first.