Nicola Sturgeon says it would be ‘outrage’ for UK government to block Scotland’s gender recognition reform bill – UK politics live

LIVE – Updated at 12:34 Move would show ‘complete contempt’ for the Scottish parliament, Nicola Sturgeon says, who accuses Keir Starmer of being ‘pale

imitation’ of Tories. No 10 plays down speculation UK and EU close to deal on Northern Ireland protocol 12:34 At the No 10 lobby briefing the PM’s spokesperson

played down speculation that the UK-EU talks on the Northern Ireland protocol are about to go into the “tunnel” – dipomatic-speak for the moment when the negotiators shut down all

briefing to the media, because talks are intensifying and an agreement is close. Asked how the discussions were going, the spokesperson said: As we’ve said on a number

of occasions, there are still gaps in our position that need to be resolved in order to address the full range of problems created by the protocol. Asked if the

government was optimistic about a breakthrough, he said: I’m not going to get into characterising in that way whilst we are still having these important discussions. I

think the public will understand that for sensitive issues like this since right negotiations are able to take place in private. No 10 says no decision yet made on

blocking Scotland's gender recognition bill, but announcement due before Wednesday 12:23 At the Downing Street lobby briefing the PM’s spokesperson said that the

government has not yet taken a decision on whether or not to block Scotland’s gender recognition reform bill. He said Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, was “the ultimate

decision maker” on this and that a decision would be taken before Wednesday (the deadline for intervention using a section 35 order).