Neil Hay

The Free Speech Union (FSU), a UK-wide organisation, has signed a deal with Levy & McRae to deal with cases arising from the controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

A new hotline is also being launched by the FSU for anyone who has been arrested or contacted by the police in relation to the Act.

Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, said: “Almost 1,000 new Scottish members have joined in the past fortnight, most of them women.

“We felt we needed to put a hotline in place in case any of them get into trouble with the police about something they’ve said. If they’re arrested or interviewed under caution for something speech-related, we will do our best to get them a lawyer.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser, who is considering a legal challenge against Police Scotland, is currently being supported by the FSU.

He claims that the single force breached the law in recording a complaint against him as a non-crime hate incident.

Neil Hay, of Levy & Macrae, said: “We are delighted to be appointed by the Free Speech Union to represent the interests of their members in this new and novel area of the law.”