Scotland’s Justice Secretary, Humza Yousaf, recently addressed concerns regarding the significant number of complaints arising from the nation’s new hate crime law. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, which establishes an offence of stirring up hatred against protected characteristics, has seen thousands of complaints, including some targeting Yousaf himself. Yousaf noted that high volumes of complaints are not uncommon with new legislation and stressed the importance of not diverting police resources to vexatious claims. He reaffirmed the law’s goal to protect free speech while ensuring hate crimes meet a stringent legal threshold. Despite criticisms from Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats, Yousaf praised police handling of sensitive cases, such as during the Old Firm football match.

In a separate development, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf expressed hopes for a prompt conclusion to the police investigation, Operation Branchform. The investigation, which began in July 2021, probes the SNP’s funding and finances, particularly focusing on the allocation of £600,000 intended for a second independence campaign. Prominent SNP figures, including former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former chief executive Peter Murrell, were arrested but released without charge. With no current timeline for the investigation’s completion or prosecution report submission, Yousaf underscored the necessity of a thorough inquiry by Police Scotland, despite the investigation’s impact on the SNP ahead of a general election. The Crown Office has assured that the prosecutorial process will maintain independence from political influences.