Independent [UK]

01/17/06

Peers have dealt a devastating blow to the Government's proposed anti-terror laws, throwing out plans to create a new offence of 'glorifying' terrorism. The House of Lords set the scene for a fresh showdown in the Commons after they voted to remove the offence by 270 to 144, a majority of 126. Tony Blair's majority was cut to just one in the Commons last year when he narrowly thwarted a backbench attempt to block the planned offence. Yesterday, peers backed the former law lord Lord Lloyd of Berwick who condemned the measure as 'unworkable.' He told the Lords: 'We are creating a new criminal offence in this section which should not be on the statute book.' Peers lined up to attack the proposed offence, claiming it was unnecessary and could erode free speech...

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article339311.ece


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp