Statement by TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth:
“Today Scotlands Secretary Alister Jack will lay down a Section 35 order to prevent Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Bill from reaching the statute book. As the news broke last night of this decision the Alliance Party’s Stephen Farry and Eóin Tennyson took to Twitter to vent their disgust with what they called a ‘disgrace to democracy’ and a ‘frustration on the delivery of equality.’ Mr Tennyson went one step further and called for Stormont to ’follow where Scotland has led.’
“It must be pointed out that when it comes to issues of equality the national government of the United Kingdom has an obligation to intervene if deemed necessary. Section 35 is a mechanism to protect citizens from devolved governments making harmful decisions, it has never been implemented before but His Majesty’s Government is right to do so in this case.
“What Stephen Farry and Eóin Tennyson fail to mention is that this is a bill that will allow sex offenders to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate allowing them along with others to gain legal recognition without the need for a medical diagnosis. Legal recognition will now also be recognised from the age of 16.
“It risks safe spaces for women and girls, opens single-sex spaces up to abuse by predatory males, and gives sex offenders the right to change gender based on self-ID. This is a sexist, misogynistic and regressive legislation, that should never be implemented. It is clearly open to abuse by those with nefarious intentions. Essentially this bill means that a man standing trial for rape can claim they’re a woman and force a victim to call them she.
“This Bill is immoral. It is definitely not something to be celebrated and it sets back women’s rights which were hard fought for, by decades.
“What is astounding is that the Alliance Party had no issue standing alongside Sinn Fein/IRA to force Westminster into stepping into the devolved issue of abortion here in Northern Ireland, they also had no issue standing alongside Sinn Fein/IRA in forcing Westminster to intervene with the Irish Language Act which is also a devolved issue. The hypocrisy of this party is sickening.
“It is only right that Westminster blocks the Gender Reform Bill, our women and children deserve every protection against those who seek to do harm.”