SNP hate crime law is the final nail in the coffin of freedom of expression, says Ann Widdecombe

This law was passed back in March of 2021 when little Miss Nicola Sturgeon was still in power. The current First Minister, Humza Yousaf was then the Justice Secretary and very much behind this legislation.

Indeed, the legislation builds on existing UK law, namely the Public Order Act 1986. Now, although I'm not a fan of the act, owing to its vagueness, but at least it recognised one sensible principle that the law ought to protect private conversations inside people's own homes.

But Humza Yousaf's censorship law does away even with that. Indeed, back in 2020, before the law passed, he explicitly asked are we comfortable giving a defence to somebody whose behaviour is threatening or abusive, or who is intentionally stirring up hatred?

Are we saying that that's justified because it's in the home? So under Humza Yousaf's tyrannical rule, not only are the freedoms of the public forum being eroded, but so is the freedom to say what you like within the four walls of your own home.

This law defines hate crime as any crime which is understood by the victim or any other person as being motivated wholly or partly by malice or ill will towards a social group. In other words, impartiality is discarded, evidence is discarded. All that matters is the perception of the complainant.

Already we're seeing the looming consequences of this legislation. Just today, Shavon Brown, the SNP community safety minister suggested that JK Rowling's so-called misgendering of transidentifying individuals could be liable to prosecution.

But Humza Yousaf really ought to be careful not to throw stones in the glasshouse of Hollywood. The words were 'malice or ill will towards a social group.' Can I remind you of what he said in 2020?

He said: "Lord Justice Clark, white, every High Court Judge, white, the Lord Advocate, white, the Solicitor General, white, the Chief Constable, white, every Deputy Chief Constable, white, every Assistant Chief Constable white, the head of the Law Society, white, the head of the Faculty of Advocates, white.

"Every prison governor, white, and not just justice. The Chief Medical Officer is white, the chief nursing officer, white, the chief veterinary office, is white, the chief social work adviser, is white. Almost every trade union in this country is headed by people who are white. In the Scottish Government, every director general is white. Every chair of every public body is white."

"Wouldn't it be a shame if someone were to take this legislation to its natural conclusion and report Humza Yousaf to the police for a clear display of malice or ill will towards white people?

That Scotland's ethnic makeup is actually 95 per cent white seems completely lost on this Scottish dictator. Funnily enough, Humza Yousaf was reported to the police for breaking the SNP's hate crime act when he said, quite justifiably, about a year ago that the transgender rapist Isla Bryson should not have been in a women's prison.

He also said 'Isla Bryson is a rapist who's completely had it. I don't think there are genuine trans women. I think they're trying to play the system.'

Interesting that he insisted on referring to Bryson as they. It just goes to show that regulating speech is not only undesirable, but it's also practically impossible.

Police Scotland have promised to investigate every single complaint, but with nearly 7000 complaints between 21 and 22 is clearly untenable.

Or perhaps this pledge has something to do with Police Scotland having implemented a new trial to simply not investigate certain types of crime, with an estimated 24,000 offences a year no longer being allocated to frontline officers.

Well, if you're confused by any of this from Police Scotland, don't worry. They issued a profoundly helpful explainer about hate crimes last year involving the hate monster.

Make of that what you will.