Blair outvoted on religious hatred
Herald Sun ^ | 1 February 2006
Posted
on 01/31/2006 2:36:43 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
BRITISH Prime Minister Tony
Blair was defeated today when parts of his government's plans to ban incitement
to religious hatred were voted down in the House of Commons.
Amendments put forward by the
House of Lords were accepted by narrow majorities of 10 and one, although the
government has a theoretical majority of 65 over the opposition parties. The
legislation had attracted criticism as muzzling free speech. It would have made
incitement to religious hatred punishable by a jail term of up to seven years.
Junior Home Office minister Paul
Goggins told the Commons: ``We are seeking to close a loophole in the law,
which is not a huge loophole''.
It was designed to protect the
Muslim community which cannot use existing legislation banning incitement to
racial hatred because Muslims do not form a race.
But an alliance of religious
leaders, humanists, artists and comedians opposed it.
It was the second time since
taking office in 1997 that Blair has been defeated in the Commons.
In November parliamentarians
refused to accept his call for a 90 day detention period for terrorist
suspects. After the vote conservative opposition members called on Blair to
quit.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke
said the government accepted the outcome of the vote.