Sturgeon: I should have paused controversial gender reforms

Nicola Sturgeon has said she should have “paused” divisive gender recognition reforms when she was first minister.

Sturgeon said she had not engaged enough with criticism of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which was passed by the Scottish Parliament but later blocked by the UK Government.

Speaking to ITV in an interview which will be screened on Monday night, the former SNP leader also spoke about her sexuality, saying she wouldn’t rule out a same-sex relationship in the future.

The comments followed a string of revelations which emerged over the weekend ahead of the publication of Sturgeon’s memoir, Frankly, later this week, including the claim that Alex Salmond could have leaked details of the investigation into complaints of sexual misconduct against him.

On the gender reforms, Sturgeon ITV’s Julie Etchingham: “I didn’t anticipate as much as I should, or engage as much as I should, on some of the concerns that might then be triggered.”

“At the point I knew it was becoming, or felt it becoming, as polarised I should have said, ‘Right, okay, let’s pause, let’s take a step back’.

“I fervently believe that the rights of women and the interests of trans people are not irreconcilable at all. I should have taken a step back and said, ‘How do we achieve this?’.”

Sturgeon once told the Scottish Parliament that concerns raised by women about the legislation were “not valid”. The legislation was later blocked from receiving royal assent by then Scottish Secretary Alister Jack amid concerns over its impact on the UK-wide Equality Act.

When Sturgeon was asked whether convicted rapist Isla Bryson was a man during First Minister’s Questions in February 2023, she said she didn’t have “enough information” to say one way or the other, adding that “what is relevant is that the individual is a rapist”. 

Reflecting on that time, she described herself as being “caught up” during that period. 

Sturgeon said: “What I would probably say now is anybody who commits the most heinous male crime against women probably forfeits the right to be the gender of their choice.” 

Queried on her choice of phrase, Sturgeon said “that probably was not the best phrase to use”.  

She added: “I should have been much more straightforward. I wasn't. We had lost all sense of rationality in this debate. I’m partly responsible for that.” 

Asked by Etchingham about comments made in her book that her sexuality is not “binary”, Sturgeon said: “I mean what it says, it’s just my view of the world and life and the way people are.

“If you’re about to ask me am I making some big revelation? No. Am I putting labels on myself? No. That’s how I see the world.”

Asked if she might have a relationship with a woman, Sturgeon said: “I’m just out of a marriage, so I’m not rushing into a relationship with anyone, anytime soon. I’m enjoying being my own person for a while.”

At the weekend, supporters of Salmond dismissed Sturgeon’s suggestion that the former first minister had leaked details of the Scottish Government investigation into his conduct.

Salmond, who died last year, was cleared of 13 sexual offences charges following a criminal trial in 2020.

In 2019, a judicial review concluded that the Scottish Government’s investigation into Salmond’s alleged misconduct was unlawful, unfair and tainted by apparent bias.

Sturgeon denied releasing details about the probe, but said it would have been “classic Alex” to have been behind the leak.

Alba party leader Kenny MacAskill called her a “hypocrite” while the party's former general secretary, Chris McEleny, described Sturgeon’s claim as a “fabrication”.

Earlier this year, Police Scotland said there would be no further action against Sturgeon as part of Operation Branchform, the long-running investigation into the SNP’s finances.

Peter Murrell, Sturgeon’s ex-husband and former SNP chief executive, has been charged with embezzlement.