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

This is a really good article about what is going wrong (and why) in Scotland.

sourcenews.scot/robin-mcalpine-the-foundations-of-scotlands-democracy-have-crumbled-and-you-should-worry/

I’m imagining an episode of Rebus after this.

There’s been a MURTER, what somebody is DEID? No. they have hurty feelz. Their feelings have been murtered.

[quote LizA49]This is a really good article about what is going wrong (and why) in Scotland.

sourcenews.scot/robin-mcalpine-the-foundations-of-scotlands-democracy-have-crumbled-and-you-should-worry/[/quote]
Yes, I read that yesterday and it's eye opening, but depressing and terrifying at the same time.

Liz, thank you, good if depressing and worrying article

Frankie Boyle may as well just hand hand himself in to Barlinnie now

Nah, Frankie's got himself some woke armour. He'll be just fine.

Hahaha the (Judith) butler did it

@queenofknives

Hahaha the (Judith) butler did it

That was supposed to be in response to the Rebus comment, sorry!

[quote LizA49]This is a really good article about what is going wrong (and why) in Scotland.

sourcenews.scot/robin-mcalpine-the-foundations-of-scotlands-democracy-have-crumbled-and-you-should-worry/[/quote]
That's a good article. Very worrying though.

@sleepyhead

Nah, Frankie's got himself some woke armour. He'll be just fine.

Frankie Boyle will be one of the witch hunter generals.

@queenofknives

Hahaha the (Judith) butler did it

😄

How could that possibly pass constitutional muster?

As for 'variations in sex characteristics' what does that mean?

It's supposed to mean "intersex". See here:

data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0059/Variations_in_Sex_Characteristics-Technical_Paper.pdf

That document even expressly warns that:

29. We were also alerted to issues relating to people’s broader experiences of the healthcare system through engaging with stakeholders who reported: ... Health professionals conflating transgender status and variations in sex characteristics.

What's the betting that in no time at all "variations in sex characteristics" in the law will be extended to apply to people who "think they're in the wrong body"? It's likely to be yet another Trojan Horse.

I know Frankie Boyle's gone to Wokerton but he'll fall foul of complaints - that I imagine a lot of people will be happy to make - on other grounds given that

(protected groups [are] defined by age, disability, racial or ethnic identity, sexual orientation, transgender identity or ‘variations in sex characteristics’)

and his given his record on insulting and offending people with disabilities, for example.

Maybe, but from what I've seen of these laws so far the issue isn't whether someone is caught by their scope but rather whether the Police on receiving a report are motivated to go after the spreader of hate. For some classes of complainants, and classes of hate spreaders, the Police don't seem to be especially motivated.

Just wondering; the SNPs hate crimes bill... surely by campaigning for independence the SNP could be argued to be stirring up hate against the English?