The burden of proof that data on sex no longer matters lies with the Scottish Government. Ignoring the advice of academic data experts, the Scottish Government has provided none.
Author: Kath Murray
Gender recognition reform: are women’s concerns valid?
In an interview on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland on 10 September, the First Minister stated that women’s concerns about GRA reform were “not valid” and that it “does not change in any way, shape or form any legal…
Read More Gender recognition reform: are women’s concerns valid?
Gender recognition reform and international developments
The current reliance on 'international developments' in relation to gender recognition reform is under-researched and misplaced. The Scottish Government needs to look much more critically at the precedents legislated for in other countries and to consider how gender self-declaration laws…
Read More Gender recognition reform and international developments
Missing data, cost cutting, and delayed publication
The Scottish Government has now published the independent analysis of the responses to the consultation on the draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. In total 17,058 responses were available for analysis, the vast majority submitted by individuals (16,843), with a…
Read More Missing data, cost cutting, and delayed publication
MBM statement on Scotland’s Census 2022 sex question guidance
The National Records of Scotland has announced that the guidance to be published alongside the 2022 census questionnaire to help respondents complete the sex question will advise people that they can answer based on their self-defined gender identity. A copy…
Read More MBM statement on Scotland’s Census 2022 sex question guidance
What does the new coalition government mean for opposition party privileges in the Scottish Parliament?
As a party of government, the Scottish Green Party will now have access to the resources of the civil service, via two junior ministerial roles and two dedicated special advisers. The question now is whether the Scottish Green Party will lose their opposition party privileges.
Whose views count? Losing sight of sex in the Police Scotland ‘Your Police’ survey
Whose views count? Losing sight of sex in the Police Scotland ‘Your Police’ survey In a recent press article, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey police Lisa Townsend stated that police forces should collect data on both sex and…
Read More Whose views count? Losing sight of sex in the Police Scotland ‘Your Police’ survey
Gender recognition reform: consultation and transparency
Gender recognition reform: consultation and transparency On 20 August 2021 the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party published its Draft Shared Policy Programme. This stated: “We will reform the Gender Recognition Act in a Bill introduced in the first year…
Read More Gender recognition reform: consultation and transparency
Use of statistics in the Scottish Government publication ‘Supporting Transgender Pupils in Schools’
This analysis raises a range of concerns about the use of statistics in the Scottish Government publication ‘Supporting Transgender Pupils In Schools’.
MBM submission to the Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland Working Group
This submission can also be downloaded here Introduction During the passage of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, we wrote extensively on the proposed legislation and provided both written and oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament. Our work in this area, including our full submission to…
Read More MBM submission to the Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland Working Group