Nicola Sturgeon’s close ally urged LGBT groups to lobby politicians over gender reforms

Feb 13, 2022 by Jill

by Daniel Sanderson, Telegraph:

One of Nicola Sturgeon’s closest allies privately urged taxpayer-funded LGBT campaigners to lobby Scottish politicians to support the SNP’s gender reforms, records show.

Shona Robison, the minister tasked with pushing through controversial changes that would make the process of legally changing gender far easier, told the Scottish Trans Alliance in December that it would be “helpful” if the body attempted to “raise understanding” of the need for reform among MSPs.

Critics raised fears that ministers were inappropriately encouraging supportive lobbyists to “amplify” the Government’s position and “delegitimise” opponents, ahead of the highly contentious legislation being laid at Holyrood.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws also confirm a close working relationship between the SNP Government and the LGBT lobby groups it largely funds, which were proactively invited for audiences with ministers.

The Edinburgh-based policy analysis group MurrayBlackburnMackenzie (MBM) said the revelations offered more evidence that the SNP Government were accepting the views of pro-trans lobbyists “at face value” while refusing to engage with legitimate criticisms of its plans.

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