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 […]
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Time to pause hate crime plans
Dear MSP, We the undersigned have serious concerns about Part 2 of the Scottish Government’s Hate Crime and Public Order Bill, and increasingly so in […]

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 […]

Take action to defend free speech
Stage 2 scrutiny of the Hate Crime Bill will begin on Tuesday 2nd February. Make sure you have your say before proceedings begin. On Tuesday, […]

Stooshie over trans rights shows hate crime plans ‘unworkable’ – campaigners
Free speech campaigners have issued a fresh call for contentious SNP hate crime proposals to be ditched, following a fiery clash over transgender rights. Last […]

Analysis: What can we expect at Stage 2?
Jamie Gillies, campaign spokesman The debate surrounding the Hate Crime Bill petered out over the Christmas period but it’s still very much a live issue. […]

Analysis: What’s next for the hated Hate Crime Bill?
Jamie Gillies, Free to Disagree spokesman The Scottish Government’s contentious Hate Crime Bill cleared its first hurdle last night in a Stage 1 debate at […]

Hate Crime Bill clears first hurdle but overhaul required
The Scottish Government’s controversial Hate Crime Bill cleared its first hurdle this evening but MSPs stressed that more, significant amendments are required before the bill […]

‘Hate crime proposals must be ditched or overhauled’
SNP hate crime proposals must be ditched or significantly amended to avoid a serious erosion of free speech, campaigners warn, as MSPs are set to […]

Free speech campaigners welcome Government hate crime concessions
The Free to Disagree campaign has welcomed an announcement by Cabinet Secretary for Justice Humza Yousaf that more aspects of the controversial Hate Crime Bill […]

Free speech campaigners welcome Justice Committee report
Free speech campaigners have welcomed a new report by Holyrood’s Justice Committee on the Scottish Government’s contentious Hate Crime Bill. A Stage 1 Report on […]