SNP backbencher sparked an angry backlash for suggesting it's "healthy" to debate who should be allowed to have sex. John Mason said freedom of speech laws allow him to "debate" what consenting adults do in Scotland.
Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, made the outburst in a debate on new Hate Crime Bill at the Scottish Parliament. And he surprised Green party leader Patrick Harvie by suggesting he would be happy to join in the discussion.In Holyrood, Mason said: "The Bill specifically protects freedom of expression, so Patrick Harvie and I can continue to debate who should or should not have sex with whom."We can discuss and criticise each other's ideas even though we strongly disagree with each other.