Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf is planning to remove sections of the bill to secure opposition support at Holyrood for the bill.

Mr Yousaf has held talks with the Faculty of Advocates as well as religious leaders and equality organisations in an attempt to find “common ground” on the bill.

Opponents of the proposed legislation warn that comments that are not intended to be offensive could lead to criminal proceedings if it were passed.

Dean of Faculty, Roddy Dunlop QC, said last month that, under the bill, comedians who tell a “Scotsman, Irishman and Englishman” joke could face imprisonment.

The Scottish Newspaper Society submission labels draft ‘stirring up of hatred’ offences in part 2 of the bill a “serious threat to freedom of expression in its broadest sense” which create the possibility for “grievances to move through the criminal justice system”.

BBC Scotland said it “strongly shares the concerns expressed by the Scottish Newspaper Society as to the impact on freedom of expression of this bill and would align itself with that submission”.