Liberal Democrat MPs inflict double defeat on Government

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 1st Feb 2006

The Liberal Democrats were last night instrumental in defeating the Government twice on the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill - only the second and third defeats this Government has suffered since coming to power in 1997. The second defeat was by just one vote, and the Government's embarrassment was made worse by the fact that Tony Blair missed the vote after ministers misjudged the opposition.

With the exception of two MPs (Norman Lamb and Andrew George) paired with Labour loyalists, every Lib Dem MP participated in last night's votes to back amendments to the Bill made by the House of Lords which the Government were trying to overturn. These amendments state that only "threatening" behaviour would be criminalised, and not merely "abusive and insulting" behaviour, and that people should only be prosecuted if there is intent to incite racial hatred. The Bill has now passed and will go for Royal Assent.

Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman "It's a good day for those who believe in the right to free speech. The strength and depth of opposition shows just how unpopular this Bill was. Once again the Lib Dems have been at the forefront of opposing the unnecessary and ill-thought out legislation brought forward by this increasingly authoritarian Government."