GagWatch

Back in January, Dr Evan Harris MP proposed an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill challenging the blasphemy law. Fearing a backbench revolt, the Government promised to table their own amendment just as soon as they had completed a “short and sharp” consultation with the Church of England – the only organisation that is actually protected by these archaic laws. This consultation is now over and the amendment has been tabled in the House of Lords.

The amendment, however, comes a lot sooner than expected and it is very unlikely that the Government had completed all of their rituals. Instead, it appears that they have been panicked into tabling their own amendment after a near identical one was tabled by long time secular campaigner, Lord Avebury.

The Government is determined that changes to blasphemy are made through their amendments, to give the appearance that they are in control.

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