The British Government will block the Scottish trans law by invoking its veto right for the first time

• Global Playground The 'trans' law that separates Scotland from England

The British government will block a

that makes it easier for people to change their legal gender, its Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, said Monday.

It is the first time that veto power has been invoked over a Scottish law.

The bill, passed in December, makes Scotland the

to back a self-identification process to change gender, including removing the need for a gender dysphoria medical diagnosis and lowering the age. minimum of 18 to 16 years.

Jack has said he was invoking Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, which allows the UK government to

it to have an adverse effect on matters where the national government retains jurisdiction. last.

"I have not taken this decision lightly," Alister Jack said in a statement, adding that it "would have a significant impact" on equality across Britain.

"I have come to the conclusion, therefore, that this is the necessary and correct course of action."

Some women's rights advocates have argued that the changes could pose a

and girls by making it easier for "predatory men" to gain access to single-sex spaces, such as toilets.

Supporters of the bill, however, claimed that the reforms

and pose no threat to women's rights.

Other countries, such as Ireland, Denmark and Argentina, have adopted self-identification laws to make

and less intrusive.

The decision is likely to trigger a

.

The Scottish government had already warned that it would challenge what it described as an attempt to undermine the democratic will of the Scottish Parliament, which has devolved powers in certain areas.

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