PRESS RELEASES

Wednesday, 26th October 2005

Lords Defeat Government on Religious Hatred Bill

Peers have voted by 260 to 111 against the Government’s Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, instead voting to introduce amendments to safeguard free speech. The attack was led by cross party coalition made up of Liberal Democrat peers, the Conservative Opposition, Labour Backbenchers and Cross-Benchers. The amendments struck out original proposals to extend the new offence to words, behaviour or material that were abusive or insulting and likely to stir up religious hatred, and instead restricted it to things that were judged threatening, as well as requiring the prosecution to prove in each case that the defendant acted with criminal intent, and added a broadly defined protection of freedom of expression.
 

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie Dearden said:-

The House of Lords have made the Bill compatible with the Labour manifesto and with human rights under the rule of law. The Government should now urgently consult on the way ahead. 
More: http://www.libdems.org.uk/parliament/parliamentaryreport.html?id=5004&navPage=parliamentary.html 
 

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. More: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1843546,00.html
2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm