Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate Tim Eagle for Moray is pledging to repeal the SNP’s Hate Crime Bill.
Tim Eagle is also backing plans that would seek to amend the law to give women in Moray proper protection from hate crime.
In March, the Scottish Conservatives were the only party to oppose the Hate Crime Bill, but the SNP’s law passed thanks to support from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green MSPs.
As the law stands, there is no protection for individuals from being prosecuted for what they say in the privacy of their own homes in Moray.
The Hate Crime Bill also does not include sex as an aggravating factor, despite women often being targeted because of their sex.
Tim Eagle says that the Hate Crime Bill shows the danger of an SNP majority at Holyrood and it is only the Scottish Conservatives who have the strength to stand up to them in Moray.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate Tim Eagle said: “The Hate Crime Bill is a scandalous piece of legislation which offers no protection from prosecution to people in regards what they say in their own homes.
“Only the Scottish Conservatives stood against this bill and removed even more extreme elements before it was finally railroaded through. It is right we challenge hate crime but this bill had huge flaws.
“I was also concerned that the bill did not consider sex an a aggravating factor in hate crimes. It is clear that women are often targeted because of their sex. It is a real shame given the strength of feeling around this that the SNP choose to ignore this in the final bill.
“If I am elected as the MSP for Moray then I pledge to repeal this bill.”
