SNP MP Joanna Cherry accuses Scottish Government of 'McCarthyism' over Hate Crime law

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A senior SNP MP has branded new legislation aimed at stamping out hate crime as "McCarthyism". Joanna Cherry suggested that Police Scotland's logging of hate incidents was curbing freedom of speech.She warned the force's plan to maintain records of every reported hate incident on file - even if they don't amount to a crime - "needs reviewed".It comes ahead of the SNP's new hate crime law finally coming into force next week.The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act was passed by MSPs in March 2021 but it has been one of the most controversial pieces of legislation debated by MSPs in the last few years The legislation creates new offences of “stirring up” hatred - which previously applied only to race - by extending it protected characteristics such as disability, race, religion and sexual orientation.

Critics feared the initial proposals could have a chilling effect on freedom of speech and the Government faced a backlash.Cherry was speaking in response to Tory MSP Murdo Fraser threatening legal action against Police Scotland after a tweet he posted criticising the Scottish Government's gender recognition policy was logged as a hate incident.The MP said today: "There’s not much Murdo and I agree about, but we do agree about freedom of speech so I support him fully in this legal action."Police Scotland are well aware that their policy of recording 'non-crime hate incidents' needs reviewed."This McCarthyism needs to stop."To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.