Scotland doesn’t need a ‘non-binary action plan’

Scotland’s government has plenty of things on its to-do list: tackling inflation, dealing with unemployment and cleaning up the mess left behind by Nicola Sturgeon. But amidst these tasks, it has found time to wade into the gender debate – by publishing its ‘non-binary equality action plan’ to help those who do not fit in to one gender or another.

Predictably, not everyone is happy. Tory MSP Murdo Fraser – a former deputy leader of the Scottish Conservative party – quipped: ‘Choosing to identify as ‘non-binary’ is as valid as choosing to identify as a cat.’

For that, Fraser has got himself into hot water with the usual suspects. Maggie Chapman – the Scottish Green MSP who has previously suggested consideration should be given to the prospect of eight-year-olds legally changing sex – was outraged.

‘It lays bare the Tories’ complete failure to grasp the fact that binary gender identities are restrictive and fail to capture the full, beautiful diversity of humanity,’ she fumed.