The Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has broken ranks to suggest that 16-year-olds are old enough to legally change gender.
Ms Keegan made the remarks after the UK Government triggered the "nuclear option" - blocking landmark gender reforms in Scotland.
At the end of 2022 the Scottish Parliament overwhelmingly passed legislation to make it easier for trans people to legally change their gender.
The legislation would remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria in order to obtain a gender recognition certificate.
It would also allow 16 and 17-year-olds to apply for a GRC for the first time.
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Appearing on Sky News, Ms Keegan was asked if she would be content for children in schools at 16 to say whether they want to change their gender.
Nicola Sturgeon warned UK minister it would be an 'outrage' to block the reforms (Getty Images)She said: "We have to be very sensitive to children. We are actually going to publish some guidance and consult because it is a very tricky area to get right.
"It has to be age-appropriate, but children have to be supported as well."
Pressed on her personal view, the minister was asked if 16 was too young.
"No I don't actually. "I was working at 16, I was paying tax at 16, I was making decisions for myself at 16," she replied.
"But it's not really about what I think, it's how we make sure we get that right balance of supporting children, but also making sure that what they're getting taught in schools is age-appropriate."
Mrs Keegan later appeared to backtrack in a separate interview when she insisted she did not have a “difference of opinion” with the government. “Actually, I don't have a strong opinion,” she told GMB.
She also defended the Government's decision to use a Section 35 order for the first time to stop the Gender Recognition Act receiving Royal Assent.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)But on Tuesday evening the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the row would "inevitably" end up in court.
In a major bust-up the SNP leader blasted the "profound mistake" of the Tory Government attempting to stoke a "culture war".
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She said the decision to prevent reforms - making it easier for trans people to legally change gender - amounted to a "direct attack" on the Scottish Parliament.
Speaking to the BBC she also questioned the motivation for the decision. "There's not an iota of good faith on the part of the UK Government on this issue," she added.
"I'm very, very certain there's no good faith here."
The LGBT+ charity Stonewall accused Westminster of using the "nuclear option" following its decision to block the reforms becoming law.
Chief Executive Nancy Kelley said: "It is the only time that Section 35 of the Scotland Act has been used since 1998, in an unprecedented move which significantly undermines the devolution settlement and will unlock constitutional and diplomatic strife.
"This is the nuclear option."
But speaking in the Commons, Mr Jack said the legislation would have "serious adverse effects" on the operation of UK-wide equalities legislation.
No10 also defended the "unprecedented approach" but said the decision was taken with "regret".
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