GB News host Bev Turner has hit out at Scotland's latest hate crime legislation, claiming it is a "necessary emotion" for free speech in society.
This follows the implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, which can see people jailed for "stirring up hatred" about age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling took to X, formerly Twitter, to protest against the legislation, and said she "looks forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment".
Rowling has publicly expressed her views on gender identity and warned that the new law ensures "freedom of speech and belief are at an end in Scotland if the accurate description of biological sex is deemed criminal".
Bev Turner defended JK Rowling as she hit out at Scotland's latest hate crime legislation
PA / GB News
Reacting to Rowling's remarks, GB News host Bev Turner read the thoughts of viewers and stated that you "can't stop hate".
Sharing the view of Tina, Bev read: "I've never heard such claptrap in all my life. I'm 78 and I will say what I like about who I like."
Bev responded: "The problem now, Tina, is if you said something in Scotland over the dinner table and somebody deemed that to have been stirring up hatred, they could anonymously report you to the police.
"And whether or not there was a victim of what you said that could be pursued. I'm not even joking. That is what this looks like."
Rishi Sunak has said England has a 'proud tradition of free speech'
PA
Host Ben Leo read another reaction from GB News viewer John, who said of the new law: "As a Scot, my father and grandfather fought in world wars to fight for my freedoms. There's no way an unelected leader is going to dictate to me and what I can say in a free country."
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Bev expressed her own concerns for the legislation, fuming: "You can't stop hate. It is a normal and actually it is a necessary human emotion. We're meant to hate some things.
"Some days I hate the stories we talk about on this show. Some days I hate what is happening in the world. And that's good, because it will motivate me to change."
Bev then noted: "It's very different to hating an individual, of course, but very, very different to enacting that hate in an act of physical violence against a person which should always be taken seriously."
Ben agreed with Bev's point, adding: "What does hate mean? Just grow up, it's the stuff of 16-year-old sixth form politics room discussions."
Bev Turner says hate is a 'necessary emotion'
GB News
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has defended his newly implemented law, claiming he is "proud" of the Act.
Yousaf told reporters: "We have seen I’m afraid, not just in the UK and of course Scotland, but right across many parts of the world, a kind of rising tide of hatred against people because of their protected characteristics.
"And Scotland having this hate crime legislation, protecting people, giving them that protection of hatred while at the same time, protecting people in terms of the freedom of expression.
"For me, it ensures that we’ve got a piece of legislation that will be enacted and implemented in a way that is absolutely balanced and makes sure it absolutely protects people and their freedom of expression. But guards people from that rising tide of hatred we see far too often in our society."