A former Scottish National Party MSP claims she was "targeted and vilified" by who she dubbed Nicola Sturgeon's "stormtroopers" after expressing concern about the dangers of puberty blockers four years ago.

This week, it was announced that the medication will be banned for under-18s with gender dysphoria indefinitely across the country.

It followed advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, who warned of an "unacceptable safety risk for children and young people", our sister paper The Scottish Daily Express reports.

The move brings Britain in line with one of the recommendations in the Cass Review into gender services for children.

The review had found a lack of evidence around treatment for under-18s with puberty-blocking drugs but faced criticism from the the Scottish Greens, then part of the Scottish government, who questioned whether it was a valid scientific document.

It comes after a temporary ban was brought in in England in May, and at Holyrood in July.

Campaigners have challenged the ban, voicing their concern for the welfare of young trans people, but their efforts failed in July when the high court ruled that the measure was lawful, Sky News reports.

LGB Alliance, which says it promotes the rights of "lesbians, bisexuals & gay men, as recognised by biological sex", hailed the indefinite ban on X this week.

In a post on Wednesday they wrote: "We are relieved that the emergency ban on puberty blockers will now be made permanent and that young people, many of them LGB, will be protected from unnecessary medicalisation."

As yet another civil war threatens to erupt within the embattled Nationalists party, Joan McAlpine, an SNP politician-turned-journalist and ally of late former First Minister Alex Salmond, responded: "I hosted 2020 @ScotParl event to raise concerns re puberty blockers/affirmation. Attended Scot launch of @AllianceLGB that year - highlighting danger to kids.

"Was targeted/vilified by Sturgeon's stormtroopers, their toxic Green allies & PinkNews," she claimed, before simply adding: "Glad I spoke up".

MSPs at the event, called "Gender dysphoria/confusion in children and young people" heard from experts including Sinead Watson, who transitioned into a man in 2015 before reversing her decision, and pyschiatrist Dr David Bell on the risks posed by puberty blockers.

But the discussion was criticised from groups including Sisters Scotland and Stonewall Scotland.

The Holyrood seminar took place in March 2020, during the consultation on the SNP's controversial Gender Recognition Reform Act, which McAlpine vocally opposed.

The bill was passed in late 2022 made it easier and less intrusive for individuals to legally change their gender, and for the first time extended the new system of self-identification to 16- and 17-year-olds.

The SNP, The Scottish Greens, and PinkNews have been approached for comment.

The Express has also reached out to Nicola Sturgeon via her parliamentary email.