HUMZA Yousaf has vowed to finally pass laws tackling hatred of women within two years.
But critics accused the First Minister of being “too slow” to protect females facing abuse.
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He was blasted for dragging his heels six years after the measures were first mooted.
Since then hate crime laws have been passed and kick in on Monday.
But they controversially do not include “gender” as a “protected characteristic”.
Feminist campaigners maintain a Misogyny and Criminal Justice Bill is essential to address prejudice against women.
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And Mr Yousaf insisted it will be introduced by the next Holyrood elections in 2026.
He said: “I absolutely want to have it passed by the end of the parliamentary term. I would want it in as quickly as possible.”
The legislation was first proposed by then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls in 2018.
Then in 2022 Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy backed the move to make anti-women hatred illegal.
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But the SNP leader — who marked his one-year anniversary as First Minister on Friday — denied delaying the introduction of her recommendations.
In an interview with The Scottish Sun on Sunday, he insisted: “Post-Baroness Kennedy’s review we began to pick up the pace in terms of misogyny work. I don’t think it’s been slow.” But he did blame “legislative timetables” for the lack of progress.
Mr Yousaf added: “If there is any way of frankly expediting that process, we’d be happy to discuss that with parliament.”
But he was accused of “moving too slowly” by Scots Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
The MSP added: “This cannot be just another set of warm words that lead nowhere.”
We told how long-delayed plans to expand offences of “stirring up hatred” come into force tomorrow.
Cops could reveal complaints about Scots over non-criminal ‘hate incidents’ to future employers
BY CHRIS MUSSON AND LEWIS MCKENZIE
COPS could reveal complaints about people over non-criminal “hate incidents” to prospective employers, it emerged.
Scottish Government guidance also suggests Scots applying to work with vulnerable groups could face allegations stored by Police Scotland being shared under a national disclosure scheme – even if no crime has taken place.
The details emerged amid criticism of the force for a policy of logging alleged hate incidents and keeping suspects’ names on a database even if there’s no criminality.
The issue has come under the spotlight ahead of beefed-up Holyrood hate laws kicking in from Monday.
And Tory MSP Murdo Fraser hit out this week at his name being “unlawfully” logged by Police Scotland after an X/Twitter post about Scottish Government non-binary policy.
Today, Police Scotland confirmed that “information within hate incidents” would fall under “other relevant information” in “enhanced” Disclosure Scotland checks, which are needed by people who want to work in areas like teaching.
Separately, so-called Protecting Vulnerable Groups or PVG checks for anyone working with vulnerable groups like kids – such as sports coaches – also fall into the higher category of checks where “other relevant information” can be provided by police, Scottish Government guidance says.
Mr Fraser said the latest revelation was “deeply concerning”.
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The move comes three years after MSPs passed the Hate Crime Bill — spearheaded by Mr Yousaf while Justice Secretary.
Ministers insist “rigorous safeguards” are in place to protect free speech.
But campaigners have warned the laws will “silence” women critical of gender reforms.
The legislation enshrines “protected characteristics” like age, transgender identity, religion and sexual orientation — but not “gender”.
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That’s against the recommendation of Judge Lord Bracadale, who previously led a hate laws review before the divisive legislation was passed in 2021.
Tory deputy justice spokeswoman Sharon Dowey slammed Nats’ delays. She hit out: “Misogyny remains a major scourge in our society so there is no excuse for the SNP continuing to dither.”
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