Andrew Doyle takes aim at SNP

Hm. Could be that if Guardian sees something a bit iffy in Scotland it just ignores it because it doesn't fit the narrative. I agree that Scotland's being pushed as the new Scandinavia - progressive, cool and different from England. Conveniently ignoring certain things is par for the course.

I'm almost surprised The Guardian hasn't reported this as A Good Thing.

It has a warped view of Scotland that Scotland is a Different Country and Everything in Scotland is better than in England so if Scotland is doing this it must be Good.

I wonder if it's still possible to order The Origins of Totalitarianism from Amazon when their warehouse is in Scotland? It'll probably need to be burned, won't it. We're going to need a bigger bonfire.

'... Intellectual, spiritual, and artistic initiative is as dangerous to totalitarianism as the gangster initiative of the mob, and both are more dangerous than mere political opposition. The consistent persecution of every higher form of intellectual activity by the new mass leaders springs from more than their natural resentment against everything they cannot understand.

Total domination does not allow for free initiative in any field of life, for any activity that is not entirely predictable. Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty' - Hannah Arendt

Please note I am absolutely not aiming this quote at anybody at all, and not calling anybody a crackpot, least of all anyone with any claim to be in a protected category.

Isn't excluding sex an act of discrimination in itself?

Presumably the Equality Act 2010 is also stirring up hatred what with its single sex exemption and all?

I do buy things from Amazon sometimes. Might even have a Prime membership.

They do sell bows (I'm a rubbish archer but I think it's the thought that counts with religion).

BovaryX, thank you for the recommendation. I'll get it read now in case I accidentally take it with me to Scotland and it has to be burnt.

I do buy things from Amazon sometimes. Might even have a Prime membership.

Can we quickly establish feminism as a culture and criticism of patriarchal systems as an activity associated with that culture and tradition?

You could claim to be an Amazonian (don't worry, a single mastectomy isn't necessary, that's a misconception).

"participation in activities associated with such a culture or such traditions"

This could surely cover just about anything?

Can we quickly establish feminism as a culture and criticism of patriarchal systems as an activity associated with that culture and tradition?

Apologies in advance for Godwin's Law. Based on one of the protected characteristics being:
"participation in activities associated with such a culture or such traditions" (14(5)(d))
and one offence being:
"as a result, it is likely that hatred will be stirred up against such a group." (3(2)(b)(ii))
it seems like a neo-Nazi could claim membership of the Ahnenerbe (a society which used dodgy archaeology and mysticism to justify Nazi atrocities) before bringing a complaint against anyone who researches or owns books on the Holocaust. On the basis that it would cause hatred against Nazis.

Don't anybody tell them about the Merry Muses, for goodness sake. Rather too much biological essentialism in there for a delicate soul.

The BBC doesn't seem to be aware of it, JamieLee. Like I said, really rather odd.

The BBC needs be on top of this, or they won't be able broadcast anything in Scotland for fear of their presenters and performers causing offence and being reported to the police and investigated for crimes ffs.

Wings Over Scotland missed out the one non SNP supporter. This odious little twerp resigned from the National Secular Society because NSS opposes the Bill along with religion organisations

mobile.twitter.com/patrickharvie/status/1289261590672322560

Yes, totally, Bovary. It should be pretty clear that this is very much a cross party issue.

I've seen articles on it in the Times, now the Spectator, maybe the National?.

Nothing on the BBC at all, I don't think.

No, I've googled and I can find articles on it (critical) iin:

Telegraph
Herald
Christian Institute
Daily Mail
Daily Express
Courier
Conservative Home
Times
Press and Journal
Daily Record
Spiked

The Guardian and the BBC have apparently not even heard a whisper of this law. Funny, you'd think that media fairly invested in freedom of speech would know about it and at least report that it's happening, if not post a critical article.

I think I'm getting a bit confused between existing hate 'incidents', like the one which has Sarah Philimore recorded 'hate incident accusations' against her name, indefinitely.

This is different, isn't it? Actually proposing to criminalise it. So not 'just' a note on your file - a potential criminal charge? For the 'perception' of somebody - not necessarily the 'victim'?

It's so mind-bendingly ridiculous that this law is being considered I think a large part of me fails to believe it's actually happening.

Police state indeed. Is it something in the water or just trying to keep everyone from seeing that the country is running to ruin?

Reminds for of the ‘moral crackdowns’ in Iran they being in when the government is doing particularly badly or the economy has taken another major dip. Look there - no THERE! Spend all your time worrying whether you have a lock of hair showing or look like you are enjoying yourself...

This is terrifying.

I'm also equally sure that it is well within the realms of possibility to perform that play slanted as a criticism, even an attack, on the large estate owners of today and fall foul of this Bill.