Memorandum submitted by Mrs S Pheasant (CJ&I 315)

 

 

I write to express my grave concern about the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill which would make it a criminal offence to 'incite hatred on the grounds of sexuality'.

 

There can be no possible reason for yet another piece of legislation, (we are awash with new Acts already) as existing legislation covers this type of incident. Many people believe that this proposed law is not only ill-advised, but it would seriously curtail freedom of speech and freedom of religion in this nation.

 

As Christopher Biggins commented in the Daily Mail on October 10th: 'A victory for gay equality? You must be joking!'  He finishes his article by stating: 'This is a dangerous road to go down. The endless search for offence can only divide us, and promote the very intolerance the Government hopes to abolish.  We should be moving in the opposite direction: celebrating freedom, diversity and humour. If there is one thing I have learned in my career in entertainment, it is that there is no greater unifying force than humour.'

 

I therefore urge the Committee to uphold our long-held tradition of freedom of speech and the often hard won freedom of religious expression by dismissing this proposal.

 

October 2007