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 […]
Category: News
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 […]
Free to Disagree response: Consultation on freedom of expression provisions
Dear Committee members, Thank you for the time you have spent scrutinising the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill over the last ten months. It […]
Yousaf’s refusal to answer ‘sex’ question should alarm us all
Jamie Gillies, Free to Disagree spokesman During a meeting of Holyrood’s Justice Committee yesterday, Cabinet Secretary Humza Yousaf faced an interesting line of questioning from […]
Campaigners urge halt as hate bill clears second hurdle
Free speech campaigners have urged MSPs to delay scrutiny of controversial hate crime proposals as the Government’s contentious Hate Crime Bill passes its second hurdle. […]
HOLYROOD URGED TO PAUSE DIVISIVE HATE CRIME PROPOSALS
Critics have urged MSPs to defer scrutiny of controversial hate crime proposals until after the May election due to ongoing concerns about an erosion of […]
Jim Sillars: Free, open debate is best antidote to hatred
Jim Sillars Is the hammer of the law the best way to tackle human failings, or is the cleansing, disinfecting air of open discussion more […]
FREE SPEECH CONCERNS ‘WHOLLY UNRESOLVED’ AFTER SNP WITHDRAWS KEY AMENDMENT TO HATE CRIME BILL
Concerns over a threat to free speech remain “wholly unresolved” after the latest parliamentary debate on the SNP’s Hate Crime Bill, campaigners have said. This […]
