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'No option' but to take gender reform legal action - minister

Scotland's social justice secretary has said she had "no option" but to challenge Westminster's block on controversial gender identity plans.

In a statement to Holyrood, Shirley-Anne Sommerville said the move was about defending democracy and devolution.

MSPs voted in December last year to pass the Gender Recognition Reform Bill by 86 votes to 39.

The UK government decided to block the reforms using a Section 35 order for the first time.

19 April 2023

Scottish government

Gender recognition reform in Scotland

Scottish Parliament

Shirley-Anne Somerville

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Neil Gray said he is "committed" to the plan and the government is "considering all options."

Neil Gray insists commitment to National Care Service

Scotland Politics

Patrick Harvie said the Scottish Greens had a responsibility to engage with the process in good faith.

Scottish Greens warn SNP not to take support for granted

Scotland Politics

Mason happy to repeat 'no genocide' claim after SNP expulsion

Mason happy to repeat 'no genocide' claim after SNP expulsion

Scotland Politics

BBC Scotland political correspondent Kirsten Campbell

Take a look at the Scottish Parliament building on its 20th birthday

He said the Parliament's opening in 1999 reflected a "new dawn" for the country.

The King's speech to Scottish Parliament in full

Scotland Politics

Russell Findlay gestures with his hands at the media conference for his election as leader. He is standing in front of Scottish Conservative party branding.

Scottish Conservatives are going to change - Russell Findlay

John Swinney

'No shortcut to independence' - Swinney

Swinney said there was "urgency" for the UK government to authorise the Acorn carbon capture and storage project.

Swinney denies lack of action over Grangemouth closure

John Swinney

Swinney targets 'whole family support' to end child poverty

John Swinney

Swinney expects change to 'poor' Westminster relations

Scotland Politics

Anas Sarwar

Anas Sarwar: ‘I will turn my back on no-one’

Scotland Politics

Taylor Swift

Meet the 'secret Swifties' of the Scottish Parliament

Health secretary Neil Gray

Gray wants 'national conversation' on future of NHS

FM John Swinney

'Fresh leadership has just arrived' says Swinney

John Swinney

First Minister's Questions in full

John Swinney has named his cabinet

Swinney appoints cabinet after being sworn in as FM

John Swinney

John Swinney sworn in as first minister of Scotland

Patrick Harvie

Greens willing to work with SNP on progressive values - Harvie

Ian Blackford

Blackford: Yousaf resignation 'in Scotland's best interest'

Humza Yousaf looks on as he speaks during a press conference at Bute House on 29 April

Humza Yousaf pays emotional tribute to his family

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

Storm Bert looks set to bring more heavy snowfall across the Scotland over the weekend.

BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell lying on the ground with a blue beanie hat and wrapped in a silver blanket

‘I wanted to show what having a seizure was like’

BBC Scotland's political editor Glenn Campbell has been describing his journey since being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour.

Weather presenter Christopher Blanchett standing in front of a large-scale photograph of wintry conditions

Weather forecast: First taste of winter in Scotland

Arctic air has been working its way in from the north, bringing cold temperatures that for the coming days.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

Flynn: Reaction to 2026 Holyrood bid 'not pleasant'

The SNP Westminster leader will stand for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat

Veterans during Edinburgh's Armistice Day event. One of them is saluting while the other have heads bowed while holding flags downward.

Watch: Armistice Day tributes take place across Scotland

The traditional 11 November two-minute period of remembrance took place at 11:00 across the country.

Three rescuers wearing life jackets and hard hats work to free a humpback whale in a sea loch

Humpback whale tangled in creel lines set free

Experts used underwater cameras to work out how the whale was trapped, before untangling it in Loch Fyne.

Sandy Duthie from Aberdeenshire is now the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, in Victoria

The Scot in charge of an Australian lighthouse

Sandy Duthie from Aberdeenshire is now the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, in Victoria

Police stand next to a blue trawler vessel moored in a harbour

Watch: Police target fishing boat over 'modern slavery' claim

A 38-year-old man was arrested and two Ghanaian men were removed from the vessel as part of the operation.

Firework explodes on the top or a building behind a traffic island sending red and yellow sparks showering metres in all directions.

Watch: Fireworks set off on Scottish streets on Bonfire Night

Fire crews have been attacked as fireworks were set off on streets across Scotland on Bonfire Night.

Gloved hand picking up one of five Lewis chessmen. Two are facing the camera and three away from the camera.

See a brand new view of the Lewis chessmen

Ten of the intricately-carved pieces have been redisplayed in a case which allows visitors to see their backs for the first time.

The Jacobite Express steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands

Repairing Scotland's historic 'Harry Potter' bridge

Engineers have been working day and night on the Glenfinnan Viaduct as part of a £3.4m restoration project.

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, wearing a blue top and black coat, stands beside Alex Salmond, wearing a blue shirt and dark jacket

Salmond death was shock to all in North Macedonia - Ahmed-Sheikh

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh says people in North Macedonia wanted to pay tribute to Alex Salmond.

Waves can be seen overtopping the barrier at Troon. The sky is grey and sea mist is being blown high by the wind.

Watch: Stormy waters and high winds as storm hits Scotland

Storm Ashley could cause gusts of up to 70-80 mph (113-129km/h) in some areas of Scotland.

Gillian Smart wears a red and black dress. She presents the weather in front of a green screen which forecasts high winds across Scotland.

The latest weather forecast as Storm Ashley hits Scotland

Gillian Smart has the latest weather forecast, as a yellow warning for high winds gusting up to 60 mph (97km/h) is in force across the whole of Scotland.

North Macedonian soldiers carrying Alex Salmond's coffin draped in a Saltire towards a private jet

Alex Salmond’s coffin flown home to Scotland

A plane carrying Alex Salmond's body has left North Macedonia and is being flown back to Scotland.

Black and white horse sticking its head out of a barn door while a police officer feeds it

Watch: Training police horses to help deal with public disorder

The BBC has been given an exclusive insight into the training of police horses when it comes to dealing with public order.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, wears a blue suit and glasses, as he stands in the House of Commons. Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves sit either side of him on the benches.

Salmond was a monumental figure in politics - Starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pays tribute to the 'lasting legacy' of Alex Salmond.

Chris McEleny of the Alba Party speaks to the BBC via Zoom from Zagreb in Croatia

'Can't believe it's happened' - Salmond's Alba colleague

Chris McEleny of the Alba Party is travelling to North Macedonia, where Alex Salmond died on Saturday.

Calum MacColl

BBC weather presenter bursts into song live on air

Calum MacColl sung the Gaelic song that won him a gold medal at the Royal National Mòd in 2021.

Sally Magnusson sits in a darkened room wearing blue-rimmed glasses, a white top and a burgundy blazer

Sally Magnusson hears how a cure for Alzheimer's is 'within our grasp'

Sally Magnusson hears how testing for early symptoms of Alzheimer's could help find a cure for the condition.