Historian Neil Oliver has joined criticism of the Scottish government’s proposed Hate Crime Bill over its feared impact on freedom of speech.
Speaking with talkRADIO’s Mike Graham, the broadcaster said: “Up here there is a pervasive atmosphere of people being frightened into silence.
“You can argue until you’re blue in the face about whether that is the intention or not of the proposed legislation but it is undeniable that that is the way in which it is being received here in many quarters.”
If passed, the legislation would update the list of characteristics, such as race, sexuality and age, protected under hate crimes and provide for new “stirring up” of hatred offences that would apply to all characteristics.
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