A FORMER advisor to Boris Johnson is reportedly behind the UK Government's response to the passing of gender reform legislation in the Scottish Parliament.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said it is "completely reasonable" for the UK Government to consider taking action to stop Scotland implementing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which MSPs voted through overwhelmingly on Thursday.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has even gone as far as threatening to launch a Section 35 order, which would block the Scottish Government from making the bill law despite gender recognition being a devolved issue.
In the aftermath of the vote in Holyrood, UK equalities minister Kemi Badenoch claimed the Scottish Government had "not addressed the full implications of their bill - especially on the lives of women and girls."
However, according to The Guardian, former Boris Johnson advisor Dougie Smith is behind the UK Government's response and is seeking to "weaponise" the issue of transgender rights ahead of the next General Election.
READ MORE: Westminster bid to block gender bill is a 'betrayal of devolution'
Smith, alongside his wife Munira Mirza - a former policy director in Johnson's Conservative government - was behind the "war on woke" and reportedly pushed for Badenoch to be made equalities minister due to her so-called "anti-woke" views.
Now, a cabinet source has told The Guardian that Smith is the "puppet master" behind the UK's response to the passing of gender reform legislation in Scotland.
The same source said Smith was behind the Conservatives strategy to whip up division amongst the general public when it comes to racial and cultural issues in an attempt to appeal to working-class voters in "red wall" seats.
Smith has reportedly now been tasked with "weaponising" the rights of transgender people before the next General Election.
Doubts have been expressed about whether or not the UK Government will go as far as issuing a Section 35 order.
However, one insider said: “It’s a high-stakes game to play. If they do, then the government simply hands over the biggest justification for Scottish independence the SNP will ever get.”
Prior to becoming an advisor in Downing Street, Smith co-founded a company which organised swingers parties for wealthy London socialites.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel