Free to Disagree’s Jamie Gillies gives his thoughts on the Hate Crime Act as it comes into force, and urges a governmental change in direction […]
Author: Free To Disagree
Scots could be most-censored internet users in UK after Online Safety Bill U-turn
Campaigners have warned that Scotland faces being the most-censored part of the UK online, as it emerges UK Government online safety plans are being amended […]
Controversial Hate Crime Act to cost Justice system £1 million, with awareness-raising costs still unknown
Implementing Scotland’s controversial new Hate Crime Act will cost Scotland’s Justice system more than £1,000,000, not including costs for awareness-raising, documents show. A freedom of […]
Offensive Speech – a letter to The Herald
This letter appeared in The Herald on Monday 14 June. Sir, Adam Tomkins’ first column for The Herald (Free speech matters – even when it’s […]
Questions for Candidates
Ahead of the May 6 election, it’s important that the issue of free speech, and the Hate Crime Act in particular, is kept on the […]
SNP veteran Jim Sillars leads criticism of “badly flawed” hate crime legislation following Holyrood vote
Jim Sillars, former Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party, has expressed profound disappointment that controversial hate crime proposals brought forward by the Scottish Government […]
Statement on Hate Crime Bill vote: Free to Disagree campaign
Tonight, Holyrood backed the Hate Crime Bill by a margin of 82 votes to 32. It’s a profoundly disappointing result. Amendments by MSPs on the […]
Beware the chilling effect of the Hate Crime Bill – Stephen Evans
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive, National Secular Society Scotland’s Hate Crime bill is back before MSPs today for a final vote. Wednesday’s stage three proceedings will […]
Why MSPs should oppose the stirring up proposals today
Jamie Gillies, Free to Disagree spokesman Later today MSPs will debate the Hate Crime Bill for the last time. It’s fair to say this legislation […]
Disparate groups unite against illiberal SNP hate crime plans
Disparate groups have urged MSPs not to endorse controversial Scottish Government hate crime proposals at a final vote on the plans later today. This afternoon, […]
Press Release: 8 in 10 people support stronger free speech protections in Hate Crime Bill
More than 8 in 10 respondents to a Holyrood consultation want stronger free speech protections in the controversial Hate Crime Bill and just 1 in […]
Eleventh hour wrangling over Hate Crime Bill a cause for alarm, campaigners say
PRESS RELEASE Campaigners have criticised a last-ditch attempt to fix free speech provisions in the Hate Crime Bill, days before a final vote on the […]