Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland secretary is acting like a governor general

First minister says Alister Jack’s block on gender law marks ‘new and more dangerous phase for devolution’

Nicola Sturgeon has accused the Scotland secretary of acting “like a governor general” in a further escalation of hostilities between the Westminster and Holyrood governments.

Scotland’s first minister said Alister Jack’s decision to block her government’s gender recognition law marked “a new and more dangerous phase for devolution”, hours after he refused an invitation from the Holyrood equalities committee to discuss the move.