THE Scottish government has ditched plans to appeal against the blocking of controversial gender legislation.

The SNP-Green Scottish government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill was blocked from coming into law almost a year ago by the Westminster government after it judged that it would impinge on UK-wide equalities legislation.

The then first minster Nicola Sturgeon pledged to fight the decision in the courts, branding it an “attack on democracy” as the stakes on the already controversial Bill were raised to a constitutional crisis.

However, the court of session ruled the decision legal earlier this month, dismissing the Scottish government’s appeal.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison confirmed on BBC Scotland’s Nine programme today that there would be no further legal challenge.

She said: “We took all of the factors in the round, around what the case and what the prospects of the case would be, as well as all the other considerations and the impact indeed on the trans community.”

The decision was welcomed on the same programme by her former SNP colleague and now Alba MSP Ash Regan, who said: “I’m disappointed that unfortunately the Scottish government has got itself into this mess to begin with, it didn’t have to do that.

“What I would like to see is that this legislation is withdrawn and I would like to see the Scottish government say they will never implement this Bill.”

However, in a note of defiance, Ms Robison warned: “If we see this again, on a piece of legislation the Secretary of State for Scotland happens not to like, we will continue to robustly defend the wishes of this Parliament.”

And the Scottish Trans Alliance called the current system for gender recognition “intrusive, stressful and difficult” and said the Bill that passed last year would have improved the lives of trans men and women.