Deputy First Minister John Swinney said he was satisfied with the Scottish Government’s response after the U.K. Supreme Court’s April 2024 gender ruling. [1]

The comment matters because the Supreme Court’s definition of “woman” as biological sex forces governments across the United Kingdom to review policies that rely on gender identity. Scotland’s adjustment signals how devolved administrations will align legislation with the highest court’s interpretation, and it highlights internal party tension over women’s rights. [4]

The Supreme Court delivered its decision in April 2024, with a nine‑judge panel ruling unanimously that the legal definition of “woman” must be based on biological sex. The judgment, issued in London, obliges public bodies to apply the definition in areas such as anti‑discrimination law and access to single‑sex facilities. [4]

Swinney’s statement emphasized that the Scottish Government had already taken steps to bring its policies into compliance and that further action would continue as needed. He said the government’s swift response showed it was “acting responsibly” and that the administration would not be deterred by political pressure. [1] The deputy first minister’s remarks were made in May 2024, shortly after the court’s ruling. [2]

Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry had earlier accused Swinney of being “too afraid” to stand up for women’s rights within his party. Swinney’s satisfaction with the government’s actions was presented as a direct rebuttal to that criticism, underscoring a split within the SNP over how to balance transgender‑inclusion measures with traditional women’s‑rights concerns. [1]

**What this means**: The Scottish Government’s alignment with the Supreme Court’s definition sets a precedent for other devolved administrations and may prompt legislative reviews across the U.K. The episode also exposes growing fault lines within the SNP, as leaders navigate competing demands from gender‑rights advocates and trans‑inclusion supporters. Future legal challenges or parliamentary debates are likely as the definition is applied to existing and new policies.

“Swinney said he was satisfied with the government's response.”

The Scottish Government’s compliance with the Supreme Court’s gender definition will influence policy across the UK, while internal SNP disagreements may shape the party’s stance on women’s and transgender rights.