Kulturkampf

[HaughtyFrank]

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier backed Rowling's stance stating the UK had a proud tradition of free speech.

Mr Sunak would not be drawn on whether he supported her approach, saying that it was "not right for me to comment on police matters, individual matters".

But he added: "We should not be criminalising people saying common sense things about biological sex, clearly that isn't right.

Earlier, Dr Nick McKerrell, a senior law lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime he thought it was unlikely that Ms Rowling would be prosecuted.

He told the programme: "On balance I think she probably won't be prosecuted because the test in the legislation states that you have to be threatening and abusive to someone with your language which essentially means that you have to cause them fear and alarm.

"I think it's close to the edge but I don't think, as it stands, those communications do that.

"Also, within the law, there is a protection for being offensive or shocking in your language and I think it could fall into that category of being offensive and shocking, but not in the realm of criminality."

The lecturer added: "There is a test for stirring up hatred, which the courts have recognised. It's quite a high level to stir up hatred.

"So any group that thinks this law is going to lower that is wrong."