Nicola Sturgeon’s new trans law could put women at risk in English schools, hospitals and prisons, fear ministers – with male ‘gender tourists’ travelling to Scotland to be declared women in law

The UK Government fears Nicola Sturgeon’s trans law reform could undermine women’s rights in key industries, reports say.

Government lawyers in Westminster are concerned that the legislation – which makes it easier for trans people as young as 16 to change their gender – could make it more difficult to guarantee same-sex healthcare, and could impose new rules on single sex schools, The Telegraph reports.

There are also concerns that people who have transitioned into women would automatically be placed in a female estate, and only moved into a special unit for transgender prisoners if they were considered high risk.

The legislation, which came into affect towards the end of last year, has also sparked fears of ‘gender tourism’ to Scotland from other parts of the UK where the law has not been changed.

Read more: Nicola Sturgeon’s new trans law could put women at risk in English schools, hospitals and prisons, fear ministers – with male ‘gender tourists’ travelling to Scotland to be declared women in law