Westminster has dragged trans people into its attack on Scotland’s powers | Shona Robison

Scotland's gender recognition reform bill showed our parliament at its best. The UK government's veto was shameless

• Shona Robison is an SNP MSP and cabinet secretary for social justice

This week the UK government has made an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act to veto the gender recognition reforms passed by the Scottish parliament. Tuesday's announcement by the Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, is harmful to trans people, who have waited long enough for improvements to the gender recognition process as - contrary to some claims being made - this legislation has been long proposed, consulted on and debated.

Indeed, it has been a manifesto commitment in the past two Holyrood elections, and has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the electorate on both those occasions. Being forced to consider the prospect of legal action before those changes can be enacted raises further uncertainty.

Shona Robison is the SNP MSP for Dundee City East and cabinet secretary for social justice, housing and local government

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