After an acrimonious debate in which the bogeyman of secularism was repeatedly invoked, on Wednesday March 5th 2008 the House of Lords accepted the amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill that abolishes the common law of blasphemy and blasphemous libel.

The amendment had originally been introduced by Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris in the House of Commons, but the Government had persuaded him to withdraw it after promising to introduce its own amendment later in the Lords. This it has now done, although – if Baroness Andrews’ speech was anything to go by – with something less than enthusiasm.

National Secular Society – Lords Approve Abolition Of Blasphemy.

Tags: Blasphemy, Secularism, House+of+Lords, Debate