The first thing to understand is that the “Hate Crime” legislations being steered through the Scottish and Northern Irish legislatures have but one central purpose – to severely limit free speech. Those challenging the narrative may even be criminalised and have their lives ruined – that’s the aim. Once Labour gets into power at Westminster this will also be driven across England and Wales and so the entire UK will succumb to a terrifying legally enforceable tyranny. It is coming our way and yet the media show little interest in it.
Some lawyers see the threat.
This is an astonishing attack on freedom of expression which, read as I read it, threatens the publication of nearly all books published before the twentieth century”, says Francis Hoar, a renowned barrister practising in public law and human rights.
Hoar cites Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Penguin’s publication of Mein Kampf – designed for educational and historical use – as examples of texts which could fall under the Bill’s provisions.
I agree with Francis but banning books, punishing opinions disagreeable to the regime whilst protecting fringe and extreme views is what this Hate Crime legislation is all about. When he introduced it, the then Scotland’s Justice Minister, Humza Yusaf, (sighs) told the BBC: “Free speech in itself is never an unfettered right.” It must be balanced, he argued, with the need to protect vulnerable communities from discrimination. And which might these “vulnerable communities” be, I wonder. Well, I seriously doubt it will be white heterosexual male Christians!
It’s not JUST public speech that this legislation seeks to police but also private speech!
“Say your friend made a joke in private that you found offensive. The possibility would be there to prosecute.” This may seem an unlikely outcome, but only one source is required to verify a hate crime – the supposed victim. The powers this offers to the state – and potentially to individuals who may seek to weaponise the law to settle personal grievances – is clear.
They really are coming for our free speech and in true Orwellian fashion they will do it in the name of protecting our liberty.
David Vance SubstackRead More
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