Is hate a crime or not, first minister?

I wish to report a hate crime.

A week ago, a man of public renown proudly declared that he would like to live in a country defined not by the character of its individuals, but by the colour of their rosette.

Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, in a rallying cry to Scottish National Party members at their conference in Perth, declared: “To people right across Scotland, our message will be very clear – vote SNP for a Scotland free from Tory MPs.”

Humza’s Hate Crime Act, which comes into force next week, extends additional discrimination protections from those intent on “stirring up racial hatred” towards people with disabilities, religious inclinations, same-sex attraction or orientation, on the basis of age, transgender identity or variations in sex characteristics.

Sadly for Humza, despite the rapturous applause after these bigoted remarks, the message is not shared by several MPs – like Pete Wishart, whose North Perthshire seat is narrowly poised against the Tories.

Conservative voters there may be disappointed to hear a first minister who once declared his wish to govern for all people in Scotland define the alignment of his interests exclusively with those in his own political tribe.

Wishart rightly fears their ire at the ballot box.

On June 10 2020, in a debate on the death of George Floyd, Scotland’s then justice secretary declared his nearest colleagues – the lord president, lord justice clerk, every High Court judge, lord advocate, solicitor general, chief constable, every deputy chief constable, every assistant chief constable, head of the

Law Society, head of the Faculty of Advocates and every prison governor – were all white.

Now, only the most generous interpretation of this statement might assume he was calling for greater occupational diversity.

As we reach a quarter century of Scottish devolution, an event intended to increase political representation, diversity and accountability, the opposite has occurred. We are entering a bizarre twilight era in Scottish politics, aided by a spirit that has been curdling for a while.

SPEECH: Humza Yousaf repeated call for a ‘Tory free’ Scotland.