A Scottish Tory has apologised after he suggested there was a connection between trans people and people having learning disabilities.

In a now-deleted tweet that became a lightning rod of criticism on Friday, MSP Stephen Kerr criticised the government’s gender recognition reform bill.

The proposal – passed by Holyrood in December but struck down by Westminster weeks later – made it easier for trans Scots to legally change their gender.

The majority of Tory MSPs voted against the legislation, one that Nicola Sturgeon’s successor, First Minster Humza Yousaf, has vowed to fight for.

Kerr, who represents Central Scotland, tweeted: ‘The coming of a new First Minister brought the chance to review the Gender Reform Bill, and ask questions Sturgeon didn’t bother with.

‘Why are more young people wanting to change their gender? Is there a link with having learning/development disabilities?’

‘But they don’t care.’

Kerr, the Scottish Conservatives’ education spokesperson, apologised today for the initial tweet, one he claimed was written by one of his staffers.

Kerr told The National newspaper: ‘I take full responsibility for everything on my Twitter and would like to apologise for any offence caused.

‘The tweet was written in haste by a member of my team and then deleted as it does not reflect my views.’

Joji, however, was also less than impressed by Kerr’s apology.

‘Not good enough,’ she tweeted, ‘and it sounds very much on form for Stephen Kerr to say something like that.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Source: Read Full Article