A leading Scottish lawyer has warned that the Government’s controversial hate crime legislation could criminalise comedy.
Roddy Dunlop QC, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, voiced concern that comedians who tell the “Scotsman, Irishman and Englishman go to a pub” joke could be committing an offence under the Bill, if it is deemed to be discriminatory against Scottish people’s national identity.
The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill seeks to extend the law on ‘hate crime’ covering particular characteristics, including religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity....