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.
Posted: Wednesday, February 1 , 2006, 9:55 (UK)

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.

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. Story