Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 September 2020
I do not accept that. There is enough time for us to give due attention to the stirring-up offences and to some of the other points that the member has legitimately raised.
I am aware of the time, so I will end by saying to the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, in particular, that I will listen. Their amendments to the motion make some valid points, and, as I have said, I intend to come back to Parliament before the oral evidence sessions take place at the Justice Committee, to give further details of how I wish to take the bill forward.
To the Conservatives, I simply say that, as parliamentarians and legislators, we have an important job to do in scrutinising the bill, debating it and amending it when necessary to improve it. I hope that they will not attempt to torpedo the bill during the current parliamentary session but that they will instead work with the Government. If we have to put extra sessions on, let us do that.
Let us send a strong message to the victims and targets of hatred that we will not abandon them or walk away from the bill. We are looking to get a robust piece of legislation that will protect them.
I move, as an amendment to motion S5M-22636, to leave out from second “believes” to end and insert:
“agrees that tackling hate crime is central to building the Scotland that all people want to see, a Scotland free from hatred, prejudice, discrimination and bigotry; acknowledges the importance of ensuring that hate crime legislation in Scotland affords sufficient protection for those that need it; agrees with the unanimous decision of the Justice Committee to afford the Bill rigorous and detailed scrutiny over the coming months; recognises that there are concerns about aspects of the Bill, including in relation to the stirring up of hatred offence provisions, which will benefit from further engagement with stakeholders and Parliamentary scrutiny; further recognises that there is a clear need to tackle misogyny in Scotland, and that the Scottish Government is committed, in principle, to developing a standalone offence of misogynistic harassment and is establishing a working group to take this forward, and agrees to seek common ground and compromise to ensure that effective legislation can be agreed that protects those affected by hate crime and prejudice in Scotland while respecting freedom of expression.”
15:30Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.