Thought crime/ hate law, is Orwellian madness.
If I, as a white heterosexual Scot were to be murdered, raped, or assaulted, I would not like to think that my attacker would be more leniently treated by the courts than if he had attacked a member of a racial or sexual minority.

I think most people would agree with that view,.... that is what it boils down to.
The "liberal" viewpoint is another smokescreen.