Labour Party and the Scottish GRA 2022 Section 35 vote.

Last week the UK Labour Party abstained from the vote for the Scottish GRA 2022 Section 35 that the Conservative Party wanted to do to block the act from getting Royal Asset. Only 11 MP’s from the Labour Party voted to block it, though I should note that none voted for it to go ahead.

What I can figure out, the reason why they did this is they are not happy the age has been lowered from 18 to 16. Everything else in the act I get the idea they are very happy with so in this post I am going to give some reasons why I think they should have voted to block it.

Here is what you currently can do after you turn 16 in Scotland

1. You can join the Armed Forces at 16, though you are not allowed on the front line at that age. Personally I joined the Army at 16 myself.
2. You can legally have a baby at 16.
3. You can vote (in Scotland) at 16.
4. You can get married at 16.
5. You can leave home at 16 without your parents consent.
6. You can apply for your own home through the local council.
7. Buy wine, beer or cider in a restaurant with a meal when a responsible adult is present, but can not buy it in a bar, off-licence or supermarket.
8. Join a trade union.
9. Drive a moped, small agricultural tractor or mowing machine.
10. Leave school. If you are 16 between 1 March and 30 September you can leave after 31 May of that year and if you are 16 between 1 October and the last day of February you can leave at the start of the Christmas holidays in that school year.
11. Get a full time job and pay National Insurance.
12. Choose your own GP.
13. Change your name without the consent of your parent or guardian.
14. Be sent to a young offenders’ institution.
15. Be prosecuted in the Justice of the Peace, Sheriff or High Court.
16. Stand for election to become a member of a Community Council in certain areas.
17. If adopted, you have the right to access information relating to your birth and adoption. You can obtain your original birth certificate and request a copy of your adoption record and your court record.
18. Be legally responsible for babysitting.
19. Apply for a passport without parental/guardian consent.
20. Consent to medical treatment.
21. Opt-out of being an organ donor.
22. Earn the National Minimum Wage for 16 and 17 year olds.
23. Work as a waiter or waitress in a hotel or restaurant.
24. Buy Premium Bonds
25. Get a piercing without parental/guardian consent
26. Buy a pet
27. You must pay the full ware on trains
28. Vote in a Scottish Parliament election and in a local election.

As you can see, there is a lot of stuff you are able to do when you turn 16.

I know a lot of Trans people thanks to the LGBT group I help run, my activism and my work with TransRadio UK, I have yet come across a trans person who didn’t know they was transgender before the age of 12.

Also remember in the Scottish GRA 2022 you have a cooling off period of 6 months for 16 & 17 year olds.

This move by Labour means they are loosing the support of the LGBT+ community as a whole and that also means loosing votes.