A controversial Bill aimed at tackling hate crime will now only prosecute those who intended to stir-up hatred, the Justice Secretary has said.

Concerns were raised when the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill was published that the offence of stirring up hatred could infringe on free speech.

But Humza Yousaf announced to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday that the Bill will only cover offences where the stirring up of hatred is intended.

He said: “The Bill does not seek to stifle robust debate, public discourse or artistic freedoms.

“Instead, the Bill seeks to offer greater protection to those who suffer from this particularly damaging type of offending behaviour while respecting freedom of expression.

“I want people across this chamber and across Scotland to come together so we can ensure hate crime law can deal with the problem of stirring up hatred in an effective and appropriate way.

“That is why I think it is important to put the concerns over the question of the operation of the new offences beyond doubt.”

The Scottish Government will make the change at stage two, amending the stirring up of hatred offences for new protected characteristics including religion, transgender identity and sexual orientation.

The Justice Secretary said he is open to continued dialogue on the Bill, which has received more than 2,000 representations since the Justice Committee announced its consultation ahead of stage one proceedings.

Mr Yousaf added: “I am confident that, going forward, the debate around the Bill will help to build consensus on how we effectively tackle hate crime, and how we can keep working together on building an inclusive and just Scotland.”

But Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said the amendments do not go far enough, and he called for further changes to protect free speech and comments made in a person’s private home.

Mr Kerr also asked why the stirring up offences were not scrapped to allow the Bill as a whole to progress.

Mr Yousaf said the change to intent only would mitigate the concerns raised around the Bill and would mean other parts of the proposed legislation, such as protections of free speech, can now be addressed.

He described the stirring up of hatred as “corrosive” in society, adding “those who are the target of hatred cannot afford to wait years and years for the vital protections they require”.

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant also raised the issue of freedom of speech, asking if stakeholders are still concerned about the effects on expression.

Mr Yousaf said there are still concerns and he will continue to look at those.

Green co-leader Patrick Harvie asked if moving to intent only would allow the accused to say they intended to do something else rather than stirring up hatred.

Mr Yousaf said he had similar concerns, but was assured by members of the legal community that such an explanation would not be believed.

By Craig Paton, PA Scotland Political Reporter