Scottish Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton said: "And so it continues….with a confusing response from John Swinney, who correctly says a woman is born female, but fails to acknowledge that a transwoman is born male and whose gender identity is female.
"Biological sex and gender are not the same."
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher added: "John Swinney on BBC Radio Scotland this morning stating that he would not do anything that would threaten the safety of women and girls. He already has.
"He voted for GRR and sat on his hands as a backbencher when the Cass Review was published."
Chris McEleny, the general secretary of the Alba Party, said: "John Swinney has decided to stand in the middle of the road when it comes to answering what is a woman.
