Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:00 pm on 31 January 2006.
The Government intend that the Bill will not restrict free speech and will deter extremists. However, does my hon. Friend agree that the Bill will follow the same route as every piece of political correctness? Ordinary, decent people will be afraid to speak their minds for fear of breaking the law. Resentment will build up and drive them into the hands of the extremists—nasty groups such as the BNP—because they feel that they have no other way of expressing their reasonable views. People will be encouraged towards the extremists, not deterred from them.