The man who plays Mr Bean, Rowan Atkinson CBE has entered into the criticism of the SNP against its new hate crime laws that are set to be introduced by the SNP’s Humza Yousaf. Mr Atkinson has joined 20 other artists, comics and cultural figures in raising the alarm against the new proposals that look set to severely limit free speech in Scotland.
Atkinson signed a letter that has also been signed by the actress Elaine C Smith, writers Chris Brookmyre and Val McDermid in warning against the SNP’s new Hate Crime and Public Order Bill’s impact on “freedom of expression”.
The law, broken to UNN readers on the 29th of April has been described by Mr Yousaf as an “important milestone” in the fight against prejudice.
Critics fear the new offence of “stirring up hatred” , which is regardless of intent, could lead to a rise in prosecutions which can now carry a maximum jail term of seven years. A letter written by the Humanist society Scotland has said: “The Bill creates stirring up offences without any intent being examined; merely that words, action, or artwork might do so. This offence could even be applied to being in possession of materials produced by someone else, where sharing the material could stir up hatred. The unintended consequences of this well-meaning Bill risk stifling freedom of expression, and the ability to articulate or criticise religious and other beliefs. As currently worded, it could frustrate rational debate and discussion which has a fundamental role in society, including artistic endeavour”.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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