Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 11 March 2021
11 Mar 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill
We have reached the final stage of a bill that has generated more attention from the public and in the media than any other piece of legislation during my time as an elected representative. As deputy convener of the Justice Committee, I also thank the many witnesses who gave expert advice, the bill team and, as ever, our outstanding clerking team and SPICe for working so hard on this monumental task.
During this session of Parliament, we have passed important, groundbreaking legislation on many issues, some of which I was involved in and some of which I was not. However, I am very pleased to have been involved in the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, despite its high-profile and often heated nature, because, if it is passed at decision time tonight, this bill will send a message to those who stir up hatred with intent to threaten and abuse minority groups that their behaviour has no place in Scotland.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
I will go straight on. There is no time in hand; time is tight. I know that members will understand why. The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Humza Yousaf)
SNP
For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I advise Parliament that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Hate Crime and Public ...
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I wonder what the cabinet secretary has to say about the fact that, in debating the hate crime bill, I am now being accused of hate crime and could expect to...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
Ms Smith will not have the police at her door for anything that she has said on the hate crime bill. I am sorry to hear that she has been the victim of hate....
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I will give you an extra minute for taking an intervention.
Humza Yousaf
SNP
Thank you. It is so important to recognise the safeguards in the bill; they are really strong safeguards. A necessary element of the new stirring up of hatr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you very much. I am sorry, but I must be very strict with time, because we must go to portfolio questions at half past 2. 13:42
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
All noted, Presiding Officer. Today marks the end of a long and tortuous passage for a bill that was introduced almost a year ago. An unprecedented 2,000-pl...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Liam Kerr
Con
I really cannot, Mr Findlay—I am sorry. Will James Kelly really vote for a bill that Free to Disagree points out has considerable parallels to the Offensive...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I recognise the work of the Parliament’s Justice Committee, and in particular its convener Adam Tomkins and those members who participated in consideration o...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I start by again commending Parliament for the rigorous and passionate way in which it conducted its scrutiny of the bill at stage 3 last night. It was, as s...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I thank everyone who has got us to this point: Lord Bracadale; the cabinet secretary and his team; the convener of the Justice Committee, Adam Tomkins, whose...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate with speeches of four minutes. 14:01
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
We have reached the final stage of a bill that has generated more attention from the public and in the media than any other piece of legislation during my ti...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Is it a regret to Rona Mackay that, at 5 pm this evening, no signal will be sent out about the hate crime that women face day and daily?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am afraid that I cannot give you extra time, Ms Mackay. You will have to absorb that in your four minutes—please continue.
Rona Mackay
SNP
I will come to that in my speech, if Johann Lamont lets me proceed. Who could argue with protecting minority groups? The bill consolidates and modernises ex...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am afraid that you must conclude.
Rona Mackay
SNP
I firmly believe that we should let that group do that important work and come to its conclusions.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am sorry, but you must stop. I take no pleasure in saying that, but the timetable has been set by the Parliamentary Bureau, and I must keep to it. Please a...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
One of the most disappointing aspects of the debate about the bill is that the fact that there is much in it with which everyone can agree often gets lost. W...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Johann Lamont, to be followed by Shona Robison. Ms Robison will be the last speaker in the open debate. 14:10
Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I will bow to your discipline, although I am not convinced that my speech will be as disciplined as it should be. If ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you. I know that members will understand why I extended the time for Ms Lamont, but for the rest of you—no. We move to closing speeches. 14:17
Shona Robison (Dundee City East) (SNP)
SNP
I, for one, will support Johann Lamont’s position and I certainly support her right not to vote for the bill for the good reasons that she set out. I would s...
James Kelly (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
As Neil Bibby and Liam McArthur have said, hate crime is, unfortunately, on the rise in Scotland. From that point of view, robust laws to tackle it are welco...
Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I thank Liam McArthur, John Finnie and Rona Mackay for their kind and generous remarks. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill is a much-changed pi...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I thank members from across the chamber for their thoughtful speeches. I again thank the Justice Committee and its clerks, the Scottish Government team and o...
Johann Lamont
Lab
Will the member give way?