UUP 'agreed in principle' to Naomi Long's proposals for trans protections - but is 'bewildered' by Alliance narrative
The UUP agreed in principle to a proposal from the justice minister to make transgender people a protected group in new hate crime laws – but has criticised Naomi Long’s failure to bring her proposals to the Executive.
A letter from the Alliance leader to Executive parties – leaked to the media – said transgender identity was already a protected characteristic in hate crime legislation in other parts of the UK.
An unnamed “Stormont source” told the BBC that the DUP were blocking “the protection of trans people” – but said that the proposals had the support of Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionist Party.
A UUP spokesperson told the News Letter that the justice minister’s letter sought “support for a proposal to include transgender identity as a protected characteristic under the statutory aggravator for hostility. This would align Northern Ireland with hate crime legislation in all other UK jurisdictions and the Republic of Ireland”.
The party said that its representative on the Executive, health minister Mike Nesbitt, had “indicated, in principle, his support for equivalence across the UK, following consultation with the party’s justice spokesperson.
“This was on the understanding that a formal Executive paper would be brought forward and that any amendment would be fully scrutinised by the Justice Committee when the Sentencing Bill is introduced”.
Various issues have been tagged on to the the sentencing bill, such as new standalone offence for attacking public-facing workers.
The UUP says that its justice spokesperson Doug Beattie had initially expected the Bill in the autumn, then by year-end – but says the DoJ has confirmed it will be delayed until 2026 “due to technical issues”.
A party spokesperson added: “At no stage was the proposed transgender amendment cited as a reason for the delay. Therefore, we remain somewhat bewildered by the Alliance Party’s narrative when no Executive paper has yet been produced and the Bill has not been submitted.
“The Ulster Unionist Party already has a number of amendments prepared for the ‘Sentencing Bill’ and will not hesitate to submit further changes during the scrutiny phase if necessary.”