Emulating the old GDR

NEXT week, the new Hate Crime Act comes into force in Scotland. Anyone deemed to have spoken “hatefully” about a person’s characteristics – for example, sexuality, religion – can have the police at their door, even if the incident occurred at their own dining table, or even in their own bed. If their “offence” is not deemed “criminal”, they may still have a National Crime Hate Incident registered on their record. Police Scotland is appointing 500 “hate crime champions” to investigate allegations reported by members of the public.

That may not seem unreasonable to some. After all, hateful comments should be discouraged. Yet the new law goes beyond that, to the extent of being Orwellian. If you have a “hate incident” registered on your record, you may not be told. Les francs-juges – the Judges of the Secret Court in medieval Germany – are alive and well in SNP Scotland. The accusers, who remain anonymous, may make their complaint at “third party reporting centres”, and complaints may include issues that are material for playwrights or comedians in public performance.

I doubt that many of us thought there was much that was admirable about the now-extinct German Democratic Republic. Why, then, do our Snp/green rulers want to emulate them and other unsavoury regimes from the 20th century?

Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh.

THE Hate Crime Bill is far too niche for the deep social problems affecting the world today. The concept needs to be expanded to cover outrage, disapproval, loathing, disgust, distaste, and dislike.

The slightly miffed should also be considered in the interests of inclusivity.

Don Ferguson, Kirkintilloch.

Holyrood has let us down

PERHAPS, with some notable exceptions, entirely the wrong type of person seems to have been attracted to politics in Scotland since devolution and unfortunately we are now all paying the price.

Take the SNP’S Hate Crime Act as a prime example. But before that there was the ludicrous named person scheme, the ill-fated deposit return scheme and, most notably, the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which was laughed out of every court in which was it was mentioned. It all indicates the limited intellectual capabilities of those who would try to make these monstrosities the law of the land.

Across the world there has been condemnation and even lampooning of the Hate Crime Bill and Elon Musk claimed the SNP’S new law is the perfect example of why freedom of speech is so important. It has made Scotland a laughing stock and demeaned in countries that value freedom of speech.

Serious matters are clearly light years beyond those at present running domestic affairs in Scotland. They do not have the ability to rise above the pettiest of party advantages, as they see it, and struggle with anything more than the trivialities of the naming of restaurants around Edinburgh Castle, and labelling and flags put on teacakes and any other passing grievance that catches the eye.

With a few outstanding exceptions, since devolution, entirely the wrong type of person seems to have been attracted to politics in Scotland and now we are paying the price.

Alexander Mckay, Edinburgh.