LEADERS from the Catholic and Evangelical church have teamed up in an unprecedented alliance to urge the Scottish Government to drop part of proposed new hate crime laws surrounding criticism of gender identity issues.

MSPs gave their initial backing to the legislation, saying it makes laws “fit for purpose” in the 21st century, but Christian leaders claim clauses surrounding trans identity will ban any criticism “for fear of criminal sanctions”.

Anthony Horan of the Catholic Church, Stephen Allison of the Free Church of Scotland, and Fred Drummond from the Evangelical Alliance have written to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf on the issue, arguing the Bill would infringe on the right to freedom of expression.