UK ranked second worst in western Europe for LGBT+ laws
Despite coming in first place in 2015, Britain has slipped further down the index every year since and is now ranked as the second worst country in western Europe and Scandinavia for LGBT+ legal protections, with a score of only 46%.
Beating only Italy in the ranking, the UK fell seven places this year as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding transgender people and the Labour Government's subsequent response.
READ MORE: Graham Linehan pleads not guilty to harassment of transgender woman
Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO of the Equality Network, said: 'It is shameful that having been ranked best in Europe for LGBT+ laws ten years ago, we have fallen so far.
'For our treatment of trans people, after the Supreme Court ruling we are now known as one of the worst countries in the whole of Europe.
'The UK must do better.'
ILGA-Europe — the international human rights group behind the index rankings — noted that, while hate crime law in Scotland improved with the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, it had little effect on the UK's overall score.
Don Kennedy added: 'Scotland, when analysed separately, has in the past been considered progressive and a beacon of LGBTI+ equality and human rights.
'That seems to be quickly deteriorating – we ask the Scottish Government to act now and do everything they can to improve the lives of LGBTI+ people in Scotland and to not submit to growing anti-LGBGI+ narratives both globally and right here in Scotland.
'We call on the Scottish Government to lead, and to fight for a future Scotland that cares.'
READ MORE: Keir Starmer 'completely rejects' comparisons with Enoch Powell
The top five countries on the index — Malta, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark and Spain — almost double Britain's score, with theirs ranging from 78% to 89%.
The European transgender rights network (TGEU) said: 'Previously a frontrunner on equality, the UK now has a Supreme Court, Prime Minister, and equality body singing from the same hymn sheet as anti-trans campaigners.
'The UK Supreme Court's decision, which defined a 'woman' for the anti-discrimination law, has severely undermined legal certainty for trans people.'
You can click here for the full European Rainbow Index.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Growing mental health crisis among Scottish police officers, Labour warns
Labour has warned of a 'growing mental health crisis' among Scottish police officers, as figures show the number of officers taking time off because of psychological issues rose by more than 50% over the last three years. The figures, obtained by the party via a Freedom of Information request, show the number of officers off work because of anxiety, depression, stress or post-traumatic stress rose from 814 in 2021 to 1,236 in 2024, an increase of 52%. The figures also show the number of officers taking time off grew each year over the period, with 1,024 in 2022 and 1,102 in 2023. The party said the figures showed officers are at 'breaking point' and called on the government to address the 'mounting pressures' facing officers. Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'It's clear police in Scotland are at breaking point after years of SNP mismanagement and neglect. 'We owe it to police officers to ensure they have the support they need while they work to keep our communities safe, but it's clear that is not the case under the SNP. 'The SNP has let police officer numbers collapse over the last five years, piling pressure on remaining officers and threatening to undermine public safety. 'The SNP must wake up to this growing mental health crisis and work with Police Scotland to support officers struggling with stress, trauma or poor mental health. 'Dealing with this crisis is vital to keeping police officers in work and on duty at a time when we need visible officers in communities. 'Police officers cannot keep bearing the brunt of SNP failure – more must be done to support police and the vital work they do.' Earlier this year it was reported that the number of days taken off by police officers and staff suffering from mental ill health rose from 63,797 in 2019/20 to 96,509 in 2023/24, a 51.3% rise Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: 'The health and welfare of our officers and staff remains one of Police Scotland's highest priorities with enhanced provisions from both our Employee Assistance and Your Wellbeing Matters programmes. 'This will be further enhanced through the implementation of our new HR structure with increased resource within our Health and Wellbeing team. 'We also have a range of mechanisms in place to support our employees who are absent from work for any reason. 'We continue to work with our occupational health provider to support police officers and staff in their journey back to health and, subsequently, to work.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Police officers and staff do a challenging job and we have welcomed the Chief Constable's commitment to workforce wellbeing. 'Staff and officers can access a range of services to support their physical and mental wellbeing. 'This includes access to a 24/7 employee assistance programme, and direct access to occupational health services. 'We are investing a record £1.64bn for policing in 2025-26, an increase of £90m on 2024-25, and Police Scotland took on more recruits in 2024-25 than at any time since 2013, with more intakes planned this year.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Social Security Scotland is 'shining example of what independence can do'
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has said after being in charge of the social security system in Scotland for more than half of its life, the 'extraordinary amount' the Holyrood government has to spend on mitigating Westminster policies has become 'a real frustration'. While she said she is proud of the way the Government has 'stepped up' to save Scots from the worst impacts of UK Government welfare policies – with £1.4 billion spent on mitigation over the last 15 years – she is 'angry' so much money has had to be spent on covering for 'the inadequacies of the Union'. Somerville insisted that with Social Security Scotland – which has been responsible for devolved benefits since 2018 – the Scottish Government has demonstrated how the welfare system could be transformed through independence. 'What we've done is demonstrate, through the work we've done through devolution, that you can have a robust system, but a fair and humane one, and it works exceptionally well,' she said. 'It doesn't mean to say we can't make it better, but we've demonstrated you can have a system that delivers for people, and I think social security and the success we've made of it, it doesn't just demonstrate why we should have the powers for the remainder of the social security system – because the vast majority is still down at Westminster – I think it demonstrates exactly why when Scotland has powers we use them differently and the people of Scotland benefit from that type of service that's done in a different way, that has their interests at heart.' Somerville (below) added: 'I am proud the Scottish Government stepped up [to mitigate Westminster policies], but I am angry and frustrated we have to, and that we do that because of the inadequacies of the Union and the settlement we are in. (Image: Jane Barlow) 'Everything we mitigate against is money we cannot spend on the NHS, on our transport system. That's the real frustration to me. 'While we remain in this settlement, we will continue to step up to protect people but there is a better way, and I think that's why, while I'm proud of what we're doing in social security, I think it is the shining example of how you can do things differently. 'If we had our independence, we could be doing that on a much bigger scale than we are at the moment when we are still beholden to Westminster.' Next year, the Scottish Government will mitigate against the two-child benefit cap introduced by the Tories at Westminster in 2017 and continued by Labour. An estimated £155 million will be spent on mitigating the policy in 2026/27, and this will rise to £200m by 2029/30, according to the Scottish Fiscal Commission. Somerville said: 'If you look at the cost of mitigation overall, we've committed £1.4 bn from 15 years of mitigation. That's an extraordinary amount that we have not been able to spend on other areas. 'That will go up still further when we begin to mitigate the full extent of the two-child cap. That's a choice we've taken and I'm proud of the fact we will do that and support people, but we have to recognise it has implications for the Scottish Government budget and it doesn't need to be like that if only the UK Government would do its job rather than us having to do that for them.' Social Security Scotland delivers several benefits including family and disability payments, many of which are unique to Scotland such as the Scottish Child Payment (SCP). In 2023, Oxford professor Danny Dorling said the SCP had sparked the biggest reduction in inequality caused by a single policy change since the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Statistics in March show rates of both relative and absolute child poverty were nine percentage points lower in Scotland than the UK average in 2023/24. Somerville explained the SCP was brought in as a response to the 'inadequacy' of Universal Credit – one of many benefits still reserved to Westminster. The SCP forms a significant part of Social Security Scotland's different approach to benefits administration which is based on 'dignity, fairness and respect'. (Image: NICK MAILER) Professor Stephen Sinclair (above), based at Glasgow Caledonian University, said in 2023 that the 'style and culture' around benefits in Scotland was different to that in the London government, as well as the benefits themselves being more generous. He said claimants on Scottish benefits felt a residual 'unease and suspicion' when interacting with social security agencies because of their experiences on the UK Government's systems – comparing this with the 'new more engaged human rights approach' of Social Security Scotland. Somerville said it had been made clear to her how much this different approach was valued. 'I spoke to one gentleman when I was on a visit who was too frightened to come forward [to DWP] when his disability worsened because he thought he might get the money he had taken away from him,' Somerville told The National. 'We know of people that didn't come forward because they found that system inhumane and degrading and what we've done is demonstrated we have a system that is based on dignity, fairness and respect and you have people who now feel they can come forward for the first time.' Asked how she felt about the welfare state in 2025, Somerville added the least society should expect from a government is that they are supported to get money they are entitled to. 'Every single one of us may need the support of a social security system at any point. The social security system is there for all of us and it's important we see that as a right and an investment in people and that has to be the core foundation of how we develop social security,' she said. 'If you're eligible, it is your right to get that benefit and it is our obligation to support you to get you what you're entitled to. That doesn't mean our system is soft-touch, but we go out of our way to make sure those people who are entitled to benefits get that money and they're supported to do so. 'That's the very least society should expect from their government.'
Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
US President Donald Trump to visit Scottish golf courses in coming weeks
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Controversial US President Donald Trump is set to visit Scotland for the first time since starting his second term. The 47th US President is allegedly set to embark on a trip to his Scottish golf courses at the end of July according to the MailOnline. Trump has a meeting with King Charles pencilled in, with rumours swirling the encounter could take place at Balmoral or Dumfries House. However, it is understood their diaries clash, the Record reports. Trump was invited for an unprecedented second State Visit likely to take place in September. MailOnline reported that in the final two weeks of July, security services are preparing for Air Force One to fly into Prestwick Airport with Trump having a ring of steel thrown around him amid anticipated protests. During his first stint in office, thousands of Scots took to the streets in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen to oppose the former Apprentice TV star's visit. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. The US president will likely visit Turnberry, which was vandalised by pro-Palestine protesters in March, and his Trump International controversial course in Aberdeen, which has had claims lodged against it that it destroyed one of the world's rarest sand dune systems. It's also thought that Trump may visit his new Aberdeenshire course, the MacLeod Trump International Golf Links course - named in honour of his Lewis-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod - which is set to open before mid-August. Trump has repeatedly asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about hosting The Open at Turnberry, which he bought in 2014 for £46 million, but the organisers have yet to concede to his demands. His son, Eric Trump, said recently: "Turnberry is considered to be the best golf course in the world by the players, the writers, the spectators and the entire golfing community. "If we get the call, and I sincerely hope we do, I promise the Royal and Ancient that we will be the best hosts The Open Championship has ever seen." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox After Trump was invited for second State Visit, the Scottish Greens launched a 'Dump Trump' petition, claiming the president was not welcome in Scotland as he presents "a clear and present danger to our climate, peace and human rights around the world". It was signed by over 6000 people. First Minister John Swinney condemned the president following his heated exchange with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office earlier this year.
