Is SNP hate crime law doomed to fail?

APRIL Fools’ Day 2024 is going to be a corker, with Humza Yousaf attempting to pass his hate law off as something other than a joke. But it begs the question: ‘why is this being introduced just now?’

well, politically he is in mess as his party’s support melts like a spring snowfall. Somehow he has to distract voters from the mess that the SNP has created. Ultimately this inept law will be left to wither on the vine. Its purpose is not to eliminate hate crime but to create a distraction and produce discord with the UK government in the hope of reviving failing SNP polling figures. graHam Wyllie, greengairs, lanarkshire.

AS A proud retired officer, I will always defend the Scottish police against malicious attacks or allegations. But am I now to understand that my former colleagues will do nothing for me if my property is stolen but will come after me if, for example, I suggest a transgender female is not a woman? It is not too late for Chief Constable Jo Farrell to row back on this tosh. By doing so she would strike a huge, positive blow for the reputation of Police Scotland. fred mCmanus, Paisley.

HUMZA Yousaf has been told that his hate crime act will be a shambles from day one. opposition politicians claim it will stifle free speech and that officers will be forced to investigate all alleged hate claims at a time when Police Scotland is saying it will not investigate 24,000 ‘minor’ crimes. Perhaps on April 1, Humza Yousaf will gleefully shout: ‘There is no Hate Bill, April Fools’.

ClarK Cross, linlithgow, West lothian.

IF THE laws already on the statute books were used, and enforced properly, everyone’s rights would already be protected and ordinary law-abiding citizens would not be facing the threat of becoming lawbreakers for just having a personal opinion. ann WHiTe, forgue, aberdeenshire.