Hate Crime Debate

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Department: Home Office
Tuesday 18th October 2016

(8 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait Baroness Williams of Trafford
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I think the Government have made that quite clear: people who live here are quite welcome in this country and we will abide by our obligations, unless other EU states change their position.

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Portrait Lord Hamilton of Epsom (Con)
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My Lords, when I was delivering leaflets on behalf of the leave campaign in Barnstaple, I asked a man leaving his house whether he was going to vote leave on Thursday and he said, “No, you racist”. Was that a hate crime?

Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait Baroness Williams of Trafford
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My Lords, it most certainly was not because we are all free to express our opinions. It is absolutely right that this country is a country in which we can express our opinions. The line lies where that expression incites people to commit hate crimes.