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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Blasphemy law 'may be abolished' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government has signalled that it will bring forward plans to repeal the law of blasphemy, in an effort to head off a rebellion by Labour MPs. | |
| Ministers are hoping to persuade backbenchers against backing a motion calling for the immediate abolition of the ancient legislation. | |
| They say they want to talk to the Church of England before scrapping the offence of blasphemous libel. | |
| But Labour MPs have been told the government is sympathetic in principle. | |
| 'Bouncing' | |
| It is thought there will be an announcement to this effect in the Commons when the issue is debated as part of the Criminal Justice Bill. | |
| Lib Dem MP Evan Harris wants an amendment to be added which would repeal the blasphemy laws. | |
| There had been concerns that Labour was facing a significant backbench revolt over the issue - but this is now unlikely. | |
| Backbenchers involved in talks with ministers say the government is anxious not to be accused of "bouncing" the Church of England into accepting abolition. | |
| But Mr 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. | |
| 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 |
| "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." |
| His amendment to the bill 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 letter said it served "no useful purpose" and offered Christian activists a means to intimidate broadcasters, publishers and performers. | |
| 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. |