Staff Reports
In Scotland, chaos reigns as the new Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 has sparked a wave of frivolous complaints and a massive waste of police resources. This legislation, brought in by First Minister Humza Yousaf, criminalizes “stirring up hatred” with vague and overreaching measures, resulting in up to seven years in prison for offenders. These measures have flooded the already overwhelmed Police Scotland with an overwhelming 9,400 complaints in just three short weeks, despite facing other pressing issues such as increasing theft and a growing drug crisis.
Scotland: Less Than One Per Cent of Hate Speech Reports Deemed Legitimate https://t.co/Iairci6T8e
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In an embarrassing twist for Yousaf, the law he championed has been turned against him, with numerous complaints filed regarding his own 2020 rant about the number of white people in authority in Scotland. This flood of complaints against Yousaf has only added to the chaos, with police reportedly having to develop a script to explain why his comments did not breach the hate speech law. The sheer magnitude of these reports has further compounded Yousaf’s already teetering position, as his leadership and the new hate speech law face diminishing support and a plummeting approval rating.
The Scottish National Party (SNP), of which Yousaf is a member, is in disarray with reports suggesting they may seek a replacement for him before the upcoming general election. Even within his own party, Yousaf’s leadership is questioned, with a poll revealing that only 29 per cent of SNP voters approve of his performance as First Minister. Moreover, the unpopular hate speech law has garnered little support, with only 21 per cent of Scots in favor of it and 45 per cent calling for its repeal.
The hasty rollout of Yousaf’s legislation has only worsened the political discord in Scotland. The Scottish Conservatives are pushing for the repeal of the new hate speech law, and public opposition to the legislation continues to grow. As Yousaf and his speech restrictions sink further in popularity, it’s evident that his leadership and legislative efforts are causing more harm than good in Scotland.
