The Scottish National Party is under mounting pressure to abandon its gender identity policies “for good”, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling this week.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, delivering a speech in Edinburgh, called on First Minister John Swinney to issue a formal apology to the women of Scotland for the “bitter divisions” sparked by the SNP’s gender legislation. He also demanded that ministers address Holyrood on the matter when Parliament returns from recess next week.
The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the definitions of “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex, not gender identity – a decisive judgment that vindicated campaigners from For Women Scotland. The ruling represents a significant legal blow to the Scottish Government’s previous attempts to reform gender recognition laws.
Cheered on by supporters in the capital, Mr Findlay declared: “Let me send this message to John Swinney and the SNP: Enough is enough. Drop your divisive policy of gender self-ID for good.”
He insisted that the Gender Recognition Reform Bill – which passed through Holyrood but was subsequently blocked by the UK Government – must not be revived “in any form”. The Scottish Tories will be pressing for a ministerial statement next week, and Mr Findlay urged all public bodies to begin immediate compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, which he described as “decisive and crystal clear”.
Mr Swinney acknowledged the decision on Wednesday, stating the Scottish Government “accepts the ruling” and that protecting the rights of all citizens will shape its response going forward.
In the same speech, Mr Findlay turned his fire on the Scottish Government’s environmental policies, branding its 2045 net zero target as “pie in the sky” and economically unrealistic. He said the current “just transition” model must be replaced by what he termed an “affordable transition”, suggesting that clinging to the 2045 deadline was more ideological than practical.
He added: “If that means ditching the 2045 target, then so be it.”
The Conservative leader argued that the SNP’s approach to climate change was “dishonest” and “out of touch with the real-world needs of Scots”. He called for investment in a new generation of nuclear power stations to replace ageing facilities such as Torness in East Lothian, set to be decommissioned in 2030. Additionally, he said overhead power pylons should be employed only as a “last resort”.
When asked about the recent defection of former Conservative MSP Jamie Greene to the Liberal Democrats, Mr Findlay dismissed suggestions of division within his party, claiming that environmental stewardship is “fundamentally Conservative”.
“I think people who look at what we’re saying will see that we’re the only party being truthful, the only party who are being realistic and credible about the net zero targets,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government defended the administration’s climate policies, highlighting the benefits of transitioning to renewable energy: “The transition to net zero and our renewables revolution will have huge economic benefits for Scotland, supporting growth and creating jobs.”
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“Climate action will also improve people’s wellbeing, protect us from extreme weather events like wildfires and floods, and create resilient communities,” they added.
Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth Scotland condemned Mr Findlay’s remarks. Caroline Rance, the group’s head of campaigns, criticised the suggestion of scrapping the just transition: “It is deeply callous for any politician to say we must abandon people who work in these industries and leave their futures up to greedy oil giants.”
She emphasised the importance of government-led planning to ensure a fair move away from fossil fuels, warning that neglecting communities would lead to further cases like Grangemouth, where workers were treated as “collateral damage”.
As the debate continues, it’s clear that the Scottish Government faces renewed pressure from all sides – legal, political, and public – to re-evaluate its stance on both gender policy and environmental targets.
