Andrew Doyle takes aim at SNP

[BovaryX]

Andrew Doyle writing in the Spectator takes aim at the new hate speech legislation in Scotland. He says the SNP regards the term 'nanny state' not as a criticism, but an aspiration. Apparently even actors performing plays will be in the crosshairs of these potentially paralysing laws, which are worded so vaguely and so open to subjective interpretation, anyone could fall foul of them. In Orwellian fashion, the Justice secretary claims they don't threaten freedom of speech, but protect it....

www.spectator.co.uk/article/could-possession-of-the-bible-become-an-offence-in-scotland

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.

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

@BovaryX

Since women are not included in protected group, it seems misogynistic hate is not covered. As for 'variations in sex characteristics' what does that mean?

It could be awkward on Burns' Night if someone is triggered by: "A Man's a Man for a' that".

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

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.

"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?

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).

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

On the basis that it would cause hatred against Nazis
Gronky

That's a really interesting point. Because potentially any history of WW2 falls into this category. Professor Richard Evan's superb trilogy which begins with The Coming of the Third Reich and concludes with the horror show of Operation Barbarossa included. So not only theatre, but history too.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Shocking.

queenofknives I share your pain! Just had bloke at work on zoom call tell me how transphobic JKRowling is. I absolutely despise the Scot govt and although I was a supporter of independence I don’t think I care any longer when I look at the state of politics. So many are really quite thick, others are genderism ideologues and the others along for the ride. The number of bad laws this lot seem determined to push through is wearying.
This is the govt that redefined “woman” to include “man” for the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act. Call yourself Loretta, out “Ms” on your gas bill and you’re a woman as far as the political class in Scotland is concerned. Woeful. I need to go and live in a cave.

The hatred for JK is intolerable. Some random nobody in the street turned around and shot me a look of daggers simply for saying her name.

I need to go and live in a cave.

I'll come with you. Terfcave.

I hope you gave them the finger. These facemasks make communication so much more necessarily visual these days...

Haha I gave her my coldest look of contempt and smiled as her soul withered inside her body...

I have often said that the best argument against Scottish independence is the SNP.

This proposal says it in a nutshell.

Yep, wee Patrick Harvie is up to his neck in it.

There seems to be a small but insanely influential group behind the Scottish policy woke wash. Lots of deals done presumably in order to push through other polices that the minority SNP govt want (not that it's just the Greens by any stretch - internal capture as well).

I wonder what Nicola Sturgeon is referring to in this interview. Could she mean, perhaps among other things, the self ID debacle and the Hate Crime Bill? I've watched the video in the BBC story but not the full interview.

Story from the BBC www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53691559

"Nicola Sturgeon has said the SNP needs to "focus on what matters to people" ahead of next year's election and put aside internal disputes.

The first minister was speaking after a number of public rows about her party's policies and strategies.

The SNP leader said internal fighting would be a turn off for voters."

I like the sound of the cave.