The SNP leadership contest is a “reboot opportunity” for the Gender Reform Act

The comment came as Sir Keir Starmer said simplifying the process of obtaining a gender recognition certificate in the rest of the UK was “not a priority for the Labor Party”.

The two men and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves were in Cumbernauld on Friday as the party stepped up its pitch to Scottish voters ahead of the next general election.

However, there was some unrest after the British party distanced itself from the Scottish party’s position on gender reform.

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In the Holyrood vote ahead of Christmas, 18 of Labor’s 22 MSPs backed the bill.

The legislation simplifies the process of obtaining a gender recognition certificate by eliminating the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, a process sometimes referred to as self-identification.

It also reduces the time someone would have to live in their acquired gender from two years to less than 12 months and lowers the minimum age for applications from 18 to 16.

However, the legislation was blocked by the UK government over concerns about the impact on Britain’s Equality Act and because it would create “two parallel and very different regimes” for the issuance and interpretation of gender recognition certificates.

Sir Keir has previously said he has concerns about the legislation despite Scottish Labor support.

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When asked during the visit if he would identify himself, he said: “It is not a priority for the Labor Party. I’ve made absolutely clear what my priorities are: the five missions I’ve set out.

“We will inherit a very badly damaged UK, a badly damaged economy. Public services are absolutely on their knees, if not on their feet, and living standards, which have been stagnant at best for well over a decade here in Scotland, in the United Kingdom.

“So I’m very clear about what my priorities are in government.”

Section 35 has become one of the dominant topics of the SNP leadership competition. Humza Yousaf has said he will appeal the decision, while Kate Forbes has said she will wait and see what legal advice says.

Ash Regan has said she will not support a lawsuit in court as the Scottish Government would lose.

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Mr Sarwar said the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon was a “reboot opportunity” for the whole debate.

“I think if we’re honest with ourselves nobody feels like we’ve won.

“Everyone feels like they lost. I don’t think anyone in our trans community has felt more protected since the passage of the GRR Act.

“And I don’t think any of the women who had legitimate concerns have felt more protected or reassured since the law passed.

“And I think a new leader is an opportunity to reset and try to change the way this is going. That way we can find the consensus going forward instead of hollowing out the community as a community.”