Nigel Farage faces Scottish revolt over trans women in female jails
The Reform UK leader earlier this week backed Vanessa Frake, his new justice adviser who is a former prison governor, when she said some transgender criminals should be imprisoned in women's jails.
His backing is understood to have dismayed some party figures north of the border, who saw a tough stance on the issue as a vote winner ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections.
Farage later said that he had never supported men in women's prisons.
Asked for clarification on their position on trans women in female jails, Reform's spokeswoman in Scotland, Claire Mackie-Brown, claimed that her party was the only one north of the border backing this year's Supreme Court ruling on the definition of woman as 'biological'.
The former Scottish Conservative councillor said: 'The SNP, Labour and even fringe parties like the Tories, backed gender recognition and self-identification.
'We stand for common sense: only biological women belong in female prisons and women's spaces — no ifs, or buts.'
Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP who was previously Reform UK's immigration and justice spokeswoman later said that it was Reform UK's policy to place some trans women in women's prisons.
But she said this was only for biological males who have had their body extensively altered in gender transition surgery, for example having their penis removed and taking female hormones.
She was speaking after Frake said it was wrong to have a blanket ban on trans women being held in female jails.
Frake argued that any decision should be taken on an individual basis after a risk assessment but that trans prisoners she had supervised were by and large 'accepted' by the prison population.
She condemned those who support a complete ban as having 'never stepped foot in a prison and seen how prison runs'.
This reflects concerns in the prison service that locking up trans women who had undergone substantial physiological changes — and who had long lived as females — could be considered 'inhumane'.
There have also been controversies about the incarceration of biological males who have committed serious sex or violent crimes, such as the rapist Isla Bryson, in women's facilities.
For Women Scotland, the gender-critical campaign group, said: 'It's of no surprise that the Scottish branch of Reform has split with Farage and the newly appointed prisons adviser.
'They will be fully aware of the damage the idea that people can change sex has done to political parties that support it. No one should vote for a party that states from the outset that they are intending to break the law.'
Farage supported Frake, saying: 'When it comes to trans women in prisons, isn't it interesting that we run our country with people who become ministers who generally have absolutely no idea of the subject matter that they're talking about.
'I personally never worked in a prison, so I can't answer it. But I think you'll find that the answer you'll get from somebody who has worked in prisons at the highest possible level is: it's basically about risk assessment, isn't it?'
Farage added: 'In terms of the problems in prisons, it's a relatively small one.'
The Reform leader had initially welcomed the Supreme Court ruling — which came after For Women Scotland sued the Scottish government — as a victory for common sense.
The Scottish Conservatives rounded on their right-wing opponents. Tess White, the Scottish party's equalities spokeswoman, said: 'Reform can't seem to decide if they believe men belong in women's prisons or not. The Scottish branch say one thing, while Nigel Farage says another, all in the space of a few days.
'They're all over the shop but the Scottish Conservatives are clear: we will always stand up for the safety of women, no matter what silly ideas other parties have on this issue.
'It's common sense that men do not belong in women's prisons but Reform seems completely confused over this issue.'
Later in a post retweeted by Nigel Farage, the Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin said: 'I would like to clarify Reform UK policy on transgender prisoners serving time in a female prison. I can assure all of you that under a Reform government, no biological male prisoner will ever serve time in a female prison. The safety of women will always be a priority for Reform.'
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