I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT..

UKIP peer Malcolm Pearson is usually a bit of a, well, kipper.

But he’s on to something when he demands clarity over what constitutes hate speech.

In a seasonal question he asks: “Can a Christian who proclaims Jesus is the only Son of the one true God be arrested for hate speech if a Muslim feels insulted and complains to police?

“By the same token, can a Muslim be arrested for preaching the supreme divinity of Allah if a Christian takes offence?”

If that’s hate speech our jails would be packed with vicars and imams. But I can see circumstances in which Lord Pearson’s examples might qualify, as any suggestion they were motivated by hostility or prejudice would make them criminal offences.

Hate Crime minister Susan Williams breezily dismisses this as “hypothetical”. That’s a pathetic response from someone responsible for this law.

There’s a thin line between freedom of speech and hate speech. And police need proper guidance to interpret it. Sajid Javid must be spitting tacks over Theresa May’s confidence victory.

The Home Secretary was busy canvassing support for a leadership bid and dreaming of redecorating No10.

He even appeared to have DUP leader Arlene Foster onside, which would have given his government the majority Mrs May’s lacks.

Arlene said encouragingly he understood her position on the Irish backstop. Saj must now forget the backstop and take a step back.