Scottish comedian Leo Kearse has hit out at the SNP’s ‘terrifying’ new hate crime bill.
Speaking on GB News, Kearse argued the policy is akin to what you might expect from the Iranian regime.
Explaining how the policy might impact comedians, he said it “extends the reach of hate crime laws into the privacy of your own home”.
“It also extends onto the stage”, he added.
The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act comes into force in Scotland on 1 April.
GB NEWS / GETTY
“It’s terrifying. Are they going to go into the pantomime to arrest the Ugly Sisters for what they did to Cinderella?
“The whole thing is based on perception. There doesn’t need to be a victim or any evidence of a crime. There just needs to be a perception.
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“The whole thing is really badly worded, it’s open to abuse. Anybody could make vexatious allegations against other people.
“Police say they are going to investigate every report, bearing in mind they have stopped investigating smaller crimes.”
Kearse said the ruling is coming into play during an already ‘febrile’ time for Scottish comedy and he gave an example of heavy-handed policing he experienced ahead of a planned show.
“Recently I did a show in Glasgow, the atmosphere was so febrile”, he said.
Leo Kearse joined Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner on GB News
GB NEWS
“The venue cancelled the show and only allowed it to go ahead with stewards to stand at the side of the stage to ensure I don’t commit a hate crime.
“That’s something you would see in Iran.”
Bev Turner questioned the GB News presenter on how such a move has been allowed to happen, with Kearse arguing it has come in under the guise of safety.
“They say this is to make sure you are being kept safe from any hurtful words or phrases”, he said.
Police Scotland have denied they will be targeting comedians
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“In reality, the government is going to use this to control public discourse and persecute its enemies.”
Police Scotland have denied they will be targeting performers when the new laws come into force next month.
A statement from the force said: "Police Scotland is not instructing officers to target actors, comedians, or any other people or groups.
"The training material was based on the Scottish government's explanatory notes which accompany the legislation.
"This included examples of a range of scenarios where offences might take place, but this does not mean officers have been told to target these situations or locations."
The statement added: "Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and officers balance the protections people have under human rights legislation against other laws every day.
"Our training for the new act therefore reminds officers of their human rights obligations and it reflects all aspects of the new legislation, including the protection it includes around freedom of expression."