Hate Bill hate

More than two-thirds of Scots oppose controversial measures at the heart of proposed new hate crime laws and up to 90 per cent of the public say free speech is an “important right”, according to a poll.

This hate crime Bill is only to suppress the Scottish nation; it will take away the voice of the people. Freedom to express is the fundamental right of the people and democracy. Once you lose that you lose everything, you become controlled and influenced by those in power, the police take over as the eyes and ears of government, the spies within society.

Alex Pajewski

If the SNP get to define what “hate” is, we’re all in trouble.

Roland Watson

And in a similar vein has Swinney finally dropped the Named Persons legislation; it was shown to be in breach of civil liberties and also simply unworkable, a vanity piece that required court action to end its life.

Calum The Mackenzie

“We will seek common ground and compromise, where necessary.” Pffffft! SNP idea of compromise is “Be reasonable, do it our way.”

Paul Holyrood

A poll that will be ignored as it doesn’t fit the SNP’S agenda.

Old Man of Hoy

Like Unionists ignore the polls that don’t fit theirs?

veritas

The burden of proof falling to the accused is abhorrent. The “victim” decides if they’ve been offended and then it’s up to the accused to prove they did not mean to offend?

John King

I am sure the general provisions are sensible and noble in intent, but this must not become a snowflakes’ charter. No-one goes through life without being hurt, disappointed or offended at times.

And so it begins, with tiresome predictability. Just as we had with the incompetent Named Person “flagship” legislation, anyone who opposes or points out the flaws is accused by the SNP sycophants of wanting to beat children or, in this case, spread hate speech.

Roastin

I can only imagine that those in favour of it are heavily assuming they will never fall foul of it. Given the nebulous nature of what will be an offence under this new law, that’s quite the assumption.

Mr Wolf

It beggars belief that more than one in ten consider free speech to be unimportant, that almost a quarter have fallen for the lie that any form of disagreement is a sign of hatred and that almost a third don’t think disagreement and debate are beneficial to society!

Reality Demands To Be Heard Too many in Scotland blindly agree with the SNP and independence irrespective of the damaging consequences for the country.

Not a lemming More and more will be speaking out against the SNP now, and if this Bill ever goes through then it will be tested in court and all hell will let loose.

Proud2bscots Politically inspired hatred can be a virulent disease, as we know from 20th century political movements across Europe, but it is hard to accept it can really be happening right here in Scotland.

Bill Carson

Anyway, won’t independence solve the problem of hate speech in Scotland like it will resolve every other social ill?

Remain Uk Uk

Next move, deported to St Kilda for not flying a Saltire at your door and in the back garden. The flag the SNP have stolen and make out it’s theirs.

Eck Murray I demand the right to be offended!

Lux (Not Ron) Given that the equivalent already exists within the framework of our legal system, the ulterior motive behind this can only be the censoring of freedom of speech, the very foundation on which our democracy is built. Whatever happened to “I may not agree with your opinion, but I’ll fight to the death for your right to hold it”?

Margot Stewart

My opinion on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill is censored.

David Brown

How on earth can any sane person even consider introducing a law like this? How could it be policed? Most of the population would be awaiting trial. Ridiculous.

Tony Ward

If passed as is, this would be the most sweeping and authoritarian law of the devolution era. It would make it virtually impossible to criticise anyone or to express genuinely held views.

Jeff Barrington I’m all for freedom of speech but not freedom of hate speech.

Heather Fiona Please somebody, stop this madness!