Government’s Religious Hatred Bill Defeated; Christians Rejoice

Evangelicals and Christian groups were celebrating last night after news that the government’s Racial and Religious Hatred Bill was rejected by the House of Commons.

|PIC1|Tony Blair faced up to a dramatic defeat last night after he failed to cast the vote that would have saved his Government from defeat over plans to create the new legislation.

Official voting records showed Blair did not enter the voting lobbies as MPs gave backing to a series of safeguards designed to water down the Bill by a majority of just one.

It was revealed that Blair voted in the first of two divisions on Lords amendments to the Bill, only to see the Government lose by 288 to 278, a majority of 10. However, Blair failed to vote in a second division when MPs voted by 283 votes to 282, a majority of one, to back safeguards inserted by peers. Had he voted, it would have left the division tied, leaving the Speaker to exercise a casting vote, which is something not witnessed since 1993.

British Home Secretary, Charles Clarke accepted defeat and said the amended Bill would go on to the statute book. He said, “The Government accepts the decision of the House this evening. We are delighted the Bill is going to its Royal Assent and delighted we have a Bill which deals with incitement against religious hatred."

Under the amendments, only "threatening" behaviour will be deemed illegal, which has removed the government’s attempt to outlaw "abusive or insulting" actions.

|TOP|The Bill was also changed to ensure that individuals could only be prosecuted if they intended to incite hatred.

The decision by the Commons will delight evangelicals, who have been rallying efforts to fight the original Bill since last year. Yesterday hundreds of Christians rallied at the Old Palace Yard in London to fight against the government’s proposals, in efforts to preserve the right of freedom of speech.

“The victory is with us for sure,” said Barbara Elele, 36, a member of the Christ Faith Tabernacle church in London who came to rally. “Where few are gathered, the Lord is there.”

The Evangelical Alliance and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) had released the warning commenting on the “immense” negative implications that would arise should the government’s version of the Bill be passed.

|AD|The reaction came about after an announcement made by the government on Jan. 24th in the House of Lords, that it would seek to reverse the changes proposed by the Lords.

Last year, the Evangelical Alliance and CARE, the Christian social concern charity, celebrated following the defeat of the original Racial and Religious Hatred Bill in the House of Lords Oct. 25th.

Opponents to the original Bill have been hugely diverse, from the Evangelical Alliance and Christian Party, to comedian Rowan Atkinson and various Secular groups had all condemned the Bill as being drawn too widely and had expressed concerns that it could outlaw criticisms of beliefs.

Speaking after the vote in favour of an amendment by Lord Lester, R. David Muir, Director of Public Policy at the Evangelical Alliance said, “Peers have done the only sensible thing with this legislation.

“The strength of opposition to this Bill in the House of Lords is a timely reminder to ministers of the importance this country places on free speech.”