Meeting of the Parliament 02 November 2016
To use a footballing analogy to answer Mr Dornan, the 2012 act does not need a substitution—it needs a full-time whistle blown on it, and that is exactly what we intend to do here today.
It is not just the Government’s responsibility to ensure that the law is fit for purpose; it is also this Parliament’s responsibility. On too many occasions, the SNP has steamrollered over the legitimate concerns of members of Opposition parties who speak in this chamber for their constituents and Scotland’s stakeholders. Today, I sincerely hope that we can begin to reverse that trend.
I move,
That the Parliament believes that sectarian behaviour and hate crime are a blight on society in Scotland and should not be tolerated under any circumstances; notes that there are laws in place to prosecute acts of hatred in addition to the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012; further notes with concern that the legal profession has repeatedly criticised the 2012 Act for being unworkable and badly drafted; regrets that the Scottish Government hastily pushed the legislation through the Parliament, despite widespread criticism from stakeholders and opposition parties, and urges the Scottish Government to repeal the Act as a matter of priority.
15:22