A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

Single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms should be used according to biological sex, under new guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and approved by ministers. The code of practice, published following last year's Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act, states that transgender people should instead be offered access to gender-neutral or separate facilities where possible. The guidance applies to a wide range of public settings, including shops, gyms, hospitals and restaurants, and recommends that gender-neutral facilities be self-contained and fully lockable. Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson said the aim was to provide organisations with "clear, accessible guidance" while ensuring people could live free from discrimination and harassment. The EHRC said denying transgender people access to any facilities at all could be discriminatory, and suggested businesses could adapt existing spaces, such as disabled toilets, to meet the requirements. While groups including For Women Scotland and Sex Matters said the move should end delays in implementing the ruling, critics including the Scottish Greens condemned the guidance as "authoritarian and cruel."

 

STV

BBC News

The Guardian

The Times

 

A Scottish Green MSP has called for a ban on conversion practices "across all settings", prompting critics to warn the proposals could criminalise gender-critical parents. Q Manivannan, Holyrood's first non-binary MSP, lodged a motion backing legislation to outlaw attempts to suppress or change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, going further than previous Scottish Government proposals which excluded non-coercive parental guidance and public debate. Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser accused the Greens of attempting to "silence anyone" with concerns about gender transition. Supporters of a ban, including the Equality Network, said legislation was needed to protect LGBT people from coercive treatment.

 

The Times

 

A former US lawyer accused of sending threatening messages to public figures has told the High Court in Edinburgh that disclosing the home address of Scotland's former chief constable to a Perth prison inmate was intended as a "bad joke" made after drinking beer. Matthew Sylvestre, 61, who denies all charges against him, is accused of menacing politicians including Jeremy Corbyn and Nadia El-Nakla, as well as sending alarming handwritten notes to Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain. Giving evidence, Sylvestre claimed he had wanted prisoner George Baigrie to write bizarre letters to former Police Scotland chief Iain Livingstone, insisting he never intended harm . He also denied threatening intent in messages sent to political figures, telling the court that comments referencing criminals and private addresses were intended sarcastically or as political protest.

 

The Courier

The Press and Journal

Leigh Griffiths, the former Scotland and Celtic striker, faces serious allegations of conspiracy and involvement in a fraudulent scheme. He had been scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 21 but was allowed to be absent. Griffiths is charged with conspiracy related to match-fixing. His lawyer made no plea, and the case is set for further examination. Griffiths will stand trial alongside three other footballers: Marc McNulty, Paul McGowan, and Keaghan Jacobs, who also face similar charges. Sheriff John Cook granted Griffiths bail after the private hearing.

 

The Daily Record

A man with seven dangerous driving convictions has been sentenced by Sheriff Kevin McCallum KC for driving at 120 miles per hour while intoxicated and disqualified. The incident occurred shortly after Sean Potter's release from prison for similar offences. The sheriff criticised the inadequacy of sentencing powers, stating Potter was fortunate that the maximum penalty is only two years.

 

Daily Record

British businesses are grappling with increasing compliance demands as governments respond to rising cyber threats and AI advancements. Cavan Fabris, partner and head of data and cyber at RPC, stated: "We cannot regulate cyber threats away. There's a risk this becomes more about compliance than a genuine uplift in resilience." He points to the challenges of overlapping UK, EU, and US regulations, which complicate compliance for global firms. Despite tightening rules, many companies remain unprepared for cyber incidents, often lacking a clear understanding of their data. Fabris stressed that resilience requires ongoing effort, not just compliance: "It's a constant posture organisations need to have."

 

City AM

The Badenoch Trust, led by Reform's leader in Scotland Malcolm Offord, is facing scrutiny from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) for failing to register as a charity in Scotland. OSCR advised the Trust to register "at the earliest opportunity" due to its operations being primarily based in Scotland. A spokesperson commented: "The charity meets the criteria for registration with OSCR." Critics, including Scottish Green Party and Labour representatives, have called for transparency from Offord regarding his role and the implications of his pledge to donate his MSP salary to the Trust.

 

The Daily Record

Police Scotland spent up to £9,000 on high street vouchers for members of an LGBT citizens panel set up to advise the force on improving relations with the community. Participants could receive up to £360 each for attending all 12 sessions. The initiative has drawn criticism from campaigners and opposition politicians, who questioned the use of police resources, while Police Scotland said the vouchers were intended to reduce barriers to participation and reflected best practice for public engagement.

 

The Daily Telegraph

A campaign group representing second home owners has criticised Highland Council over what it describes as unequal treatment compared with operators of short-term lets. SHOFT (Second Home Owners For Fair Treatment) said the council had failed to respond to concerns over a 300% council tax increase introduced in April, while taking a more consultative approach to proposed changes affecting short-term lets. The council introduced the tax rise in an effort to bring more properties onto the housing market amid the Highlands housing shortage.

 

STV

First Minister John Swinney has said the Scottish Government will bring forward a motion on independence for a Holyrood vote next week, marking the first major parliamentary debate of the new term. The motion, due to be debated on Tuesday, is expected to reaffirm support for a referendum on Scotland's constitutional future, with pro-independence MSPs holding a majority in the chamber. Swinney said the vote would reflect the mandate secured by independence-supporting parties at the recent election, while Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay urged the Government to move quickly to advance the issue.

 

Glasgow Evening Times

The Scotsman