Thread by @Francis_Hoar

My report, 'In Protection of Freedom of Speech' is now available here. The Executive Summary summarises the arguments. My thanks to @lozzafox & @thereclaimparty for commissioning this independent report. I am honoured that Ld Sumption wrote the Foreword.
reclaimparty.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

This Report makes six proposals:
(1) The word ‘abusive’ should be removed from section 5 and the words ‘insulting’ and ‘abusive’ should be removed from section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986:

...offences which criminalise speech or behaviour that is likely to or intended to cause harassment, alarm or distress. ‘Insulting’ was removed from section 5 but criminalises speech or behaviour that, while it might be unpleasant, should not be the concern of the state.

(2) Offences of stirring up racial hatred should be reformed to align them with the offences of stirring up hatred due to religious belief or sexual orientation by providing that they are committed only where there is intent to stir up hatred.

(3) The Hate Crimes Operational Guidance should be withdrawn or reformed to provide that police officers may not record speech or behaviour unless they reasonably believe that a criminal offence has been
committed after having evaluated all the evidence.

(4) The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill should be opposed outright. Alternatively, the Bill should be amended: (a) to provide that it criminalises only threatening behaviour and only where it is intended to stir up religious (or other) hatred;

...and (b) to include a provision protecting the free expression of belief that is as robust as section 29J of the (English) Public Order Act 1986.

(5) Website ‘hosts’ of ‘organic’ content that is not edited or published by them (in law) should be prohibited from removing statements unless their publication is or may be a criminal offence or a civil wrong.

(6) Employment law should be amended to include express protection for an employee’s speech outside the course of employment.

My warm thanks to Lucile Taylor and Anna Loufti for their many excellent contributions and advice and editing; and to Laurence and Toby Vincent for their ideas and support throughout.