Shock Defeat over Religious Hatred Bill

Labour's Chief Whip made key errors in calculation and the proposal was lost by the PM's failure to vote.

Praise God! The government have been defeated over proposals to end the principle of free speech with regard to religion. The media are stunned, with the BBC reporting that in one division, the government lost by just one vote after the Prime Minister failed to walk through the divison lobby on a second ballot.

This is Tony Blair's second only defeat since 1997. The Chief Whip told him it was pointless voting in the second ballot. However several Labour rebels had wandered off to get a drink and the majority of the rebellion had almost been lost. The Tories meanwhile turned up in massive numbers to scupper the bill.

Still, the nature of this strategic loss has embarrassed the Labour hierarchy. An official said: “The PM will make sure he does vote in future on important votes. This was a one-off.” He agreed that the whole episode was a “cock-up”.

It is shocking to think that this government were so intent on pushing such an iniquitous and badly thought out bill through Parliament and that our ancient religious freedoms have been protected by just 1 vote in the Commons and by the earlier intervention of unelected godly and wise elders in the House of Lords.

But the unusual nature of this turnaround is evidence that the Lord has heard the prayers of his people. Let us continue to be prayerful in these times.