Hate law gets Commons ok

A fresh legislation enabling the government to clamp down on expressions of religious hatred in Britain has been cleared in the House of Commons but is expected to face a rocky ride in the House of Lords. MPs gave the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill a third reading by 301 votes to 229, a majority of 72, last night.

Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the Bill would not improve race relations. But Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said, ‘‘I believe we need to take on the hate-mongers, whether they are terrorists or extremists.’’ He described the Bill as small and tightly focused with ‘‘not much room for manoeuvre’’, although he accepted it was ‘‘not the whole answer’’. ‘‘There is a gap and we seek to close it through the legislation,’’ Goggins said.

The Bill, welcomed by the Hindu community in Britain, would create a new offence of incitement to religious hatred. PTI