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| Government hint on blasphemy law | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Government sources say they are "sympathetic" to calls from MPs to abolish the law on blasphemy. | |
| But ministers want to consult the Anglican community further before deciding on such a change. | |
| That means a Commons amendment backed by more than 70 MPs, calling for the offence of blasphemous libel to be scrapped, will be opposed on Wednesday. | |
| Downing Street earlier did not rule out tabling its own amendment in the Lords after talks with the Church of England. | |
| Letter | Letter |
| The amendment is to the Criminal Justice Bill, which is returning to the Commons from the last parliamentary session. | |
| Liberal Democrat Evan Harris is proposing it is altered to abolish the "outdated" blasphemy law, which is based on decisions made by 19th Century courts. | |
| The move comes after leading figures, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, wrote to the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, arguing the legislation was discriminatory as it only covers attacks on Christianity and Church of England beliefs. | The move comes after leading figures, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, wrote to the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, arguing the legislation was discriminatory as it only covers attacks on Christianity and Church of England beliefs. |
| The blasphemy laws protect belief; they don't protect people Nicholas HytnerTheatre director | The blasphemy laws protect belief; they don't protect people Nicholas HytnerTheatre director |
| The letter said it served "no useful purpose" and offered Christian activists a means to intimidate broadcasters, publishers and performers. | The letter said it served "no useful purpose" and offered Christian activists a means to intimidate broadcasters, publishers and performers. |
| Dr Harris said: "There is cross-party, secular and religious support for confining this unnecessary, discriminatory and censorious law to the history books where it belongs. | Dr Harris said: "There is cross-party, secular and religious support for confining this unnecessary, discriminatory and censorious law to the history books where it belongs. |
| "Neither the Church of England nor the government has given a good reason for the blasphemy law to be retained, so it is time Parliament stood up for free expression and against a religious privilege which protects beliefs instead of people." | "Neither the Church of England nor the government has given a good reason for the blasphemy law to be retained, so it is time Parliament stood up for free expression and against a religious privilege which protects beliefs instead of people." |
| The High Court last month rejected an attempt by a Christian evangelical group to prosecute the director general of the BBC for blasphemy over the screening of the musical Jerry Springer - The Opera. | The High Court last month rejected an attempt by a Christian evangelical group to prosecute the director general of the BBC for blasphemy over the screening of the musical Jerry Springer - The Opera. |
| 'Respect' | 'Respect' |
| Its director, Nicholas Hytner, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we have now is essentially a secular country based on a common bond of decency which includes free speech. | Its director, Nicholas Hytner, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we have now is essentially a secular country based on a common bond of decency which includes free speech. |
| "And free speech includes the expectation that there should be mutual respect between those with different beliefs. | "And free speech includes the expectation that there should be mutual respect between those with different beliefs. |
| "And I don't believe that the law should address what people believe. The blasphemy laws protect belief; they don't protect people." | "And I don't believe that the law should address what people believe. The blasphemy laws protect belief; they don't protect people." |
| Don Horrocks, of the Evangelical Alliance, agreed that there was "no real argument" for retaining the law, saying: "Everybody knows it's not really going to be used again." | Don Horrocks, of the Evangelical Alliance, agreed that there was "no real argument" for retaining the law, saying: "Everybody knows it's not really going to be used again." |
| But he warned that changing the legislation could "send out a signal" that "gratuitous abuse and offence" is acceptable. | But he warned that changing the legislation could "send out a signal" that "gratuitous abuse and offence" is acceptable. |
| The Criminal Justice Bill is also expected to be altered to include government plans to reintroduce powers to ban strikes by prison officers in England and Wales. | The Criminal Justice Bill is also expected to be altered to include government plans to reintroduce powers to ban strikes by prison officers in England and Wales. |
| This follows a surprise walkout by 20,000 staff last summer. | This follows a surprise walkout by 20,000 staff last summer. |
| The Conservatives, whose 1994 ban on such action was repealed by Labour in 2005 and replaced with a voluntary "no-strike" agreement, said it was a "humiliating U-turn". | The Conservatives, whose 1994 ban on such action was repealed by Labour in 2005 and replaced with a voluntary "no-strike" agreement, said it was a "humiliating U-turn". |
| Another amendment would ban anyone from paying for sexual services in controlled zones, which local authorities and police would identify. | Another amendment would ban anyone from paying for sexual services in controlled zones, which local authorities and police would identify. |