Facing ‘humiliation’ over failed legislation... again

THE new Hate Crime Bill could lead to the SNP government being ‘humiliated again’ as they were over several other failed laws.

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill has been widely criticised by lawyers, politicians and campaigners – amid fears it will have a negative impact on freedom of speech and justice.

The proposals follow Lord Bracadale’s review of hate crime legislation in Scotland, with a consultation two years ago containing a number of warnings over the plans.

However, ministers have decided to move ahead with Stage One of the legislative process – prompting fears the law could follow other legislation drawn up by the SNP.

In 2012, they introduced the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening

Communications Act. Aimed at addressing sectarian behaviour at football matches, it failed to tackle bigotry problems. The law was repealed in 2018.

The Scottish Government was also forced to abandon controversial plans to appoint a ‘named person’ to every child. Branded a ‘snoopers charter’, the Supreme Court ruling that an information sharing aspect of the proposed initiative breached human rights laws. Education Secretary John Swinney later scrapped plans for the legislation. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘No one is against tackling genuine hate crime, but yet again the SNP government has over-reached and drafted a Bill that goes far further than intended.

‘Mr Yousaf has already proved he neither understands nor remembers his Bill, surely that should set alarm bells off at SNP HQ. The SNP government must climb down now before they are humiliated once again.’