Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 Power

Nick Fletcher Excerpts

Tuesday 17th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Nick Fletcher (Don Valley) (Con)]

I will start where the SNP leader—I am sorry that he is not in his place—finished his speech, by talking about wisdom. Where is the wisdom in the removal of the requirement for an applicant to have or have had a diagnosis of gender dysphoria? Where is the wisdom in reducing the minimum age for applicants from 18 to 16? Where is the wisdom in changing the period for which an applicant must have lived in their acquired gender before submitting an application from two years to three months? Where is the wisdom in the removal of the requirement for an applicant to provide any evidence that they have lived in their acquired gender when submitting an application? Where is the wisdom in the removal of the requirement for a panel to be satisfied that the applicant meets the criteria?

There may have been six years of consultation and many experts may have gone through this, but unfortunately there has been no common sense. The only common sense and wisdom that I have heard today has been about the Secretary of State using section 35 to protect women and children in England.

I have spoken on the subject before and been vilified for saying that transgender children are just going through a phase, only for the NHS to write an article a few weeks later saying that the majority of children are going through a phase. This is a toxic subject, and it is now being used by the SNP as a political football.

I want hon. Members across the House to remember what this is all about. There are families in this country in which boys and girls are coming home from school and saying that they are in the wrong body. These sorts of things are being glamourised on TV as though it is a wonderful thing. Let me tell the House that it is tearing parents, families and children apart and setting children on to a path of puberty blockers, hormone replacements and surgery. It is a disgrace what we are doing with children, and it must stop. I just hope that the parents who have to hear their children say that show wisdom and stick fast and hard to their belief that their child was born in the right body. We should do all we can in this place to protect those parents, protect women and protect children.

--- Later in debate ---

[Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab)]

The document that the Government have published is a policy statement, not a legal document—and one so thin that it is absolutely translucent, especially for such an unprecedented unilateral action in the invocation of the section 35 power. Frankly, I have been disgusted by a lot of the tone of today’s debate. I am very interested to hear a lot of people suddenly become massive defenders of equality, including the hon. Member for Don Valley (Nick Fletcher). I remember being in a Westminster Hall debate with him when he said that Dr Who being a woman was turning boys gay, among other ridiculous arguments.

[Nick Fletcher]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton)]

Is the hon. Lady giving way?

[Charlotte Nichols]

I will not give way, actually. I think we have heard more than enough—

[Nick Fletcher]

That is not what I said!

[Charlotte Nichols]

Yes it is—

[Nick Fletcher]

Withdraw!

[Charlotte Nichols]

I will not withdraw it—

[Nick Fletcher]

Hansard will show that is not—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. No; the hon. Gentleman must resume his seat.

[Nick Fletcher]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I ask the hon. Member to withdraw that and refer to Hansard. That is not what I said; that is an outright lie.

[Hon. Members]

Oh!

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

No, no; the hon. Gentleman must qualify that. I think he meant that the hon. Lady may have unintentionally misled the House.

[Nick Fletcher]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Is that what he is going to say? I hope it is.

[Nick Fletcher]

It is, Madam Deputy Speaker.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

With regard to the point of order, which obviously the hon. Gentleman was addressing to me to say that he felt that what had been said was incorrect, my response is that if the hon. Lady at any point feels, when she goes back to look at the debate, that what she has said has unintentionally misled the House, she will correct the record. I am taking her word for it that she will do that.