The Government was heavily defeated in the Lords tonight over its plans to outlaw incitement to religious hatred.

Voting was 260 to 111 in favour of a cross-party motion to modify the Government's Bill to introduce safeguards for freedom of speech.

The defeat was not unexpected, after senior churchmen issued a stern warning two weeks ago that the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill threatened civil liberties.

Then, it was the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton who led critics during the Bill’s second reading debate on October 11.

Lord Carey told the Lords two weeks ago that he supported moves to promote social cohesion. "However I am troubled by the Bill before us and feel it would weaken the social fabric of our society, " he went on

"It has the potential to drive a wedge between Muslim communities and the rest of us. It is unclear, endangers civil liberties and raises unrealistic expectations."

Lord Carey said that the thinking behind the legislation was woolly and it was unclear "what are the offences that the ... Bill seeks to address."

He warned: "The Bill threatens civil liberties. British society is far from perfect but our nation is renowned for values associated with freedom to speak our mind, freedom to argue, debate and challenge accepted convention.

"The Government ought to be very worried that from many sections of our society - actors, comedians, clergy, church groups, community leaders and many others - fears have been raised that free speech and critical argument will be muffled if ever this Bill is implemented."

That debate ended without a vote, but the hostile reception set the scene for tonight's rough ride when the Bill returned to the Lords.

Rowan Atkinson has also been among the most outspoken opponents of the Bill, warning that comedians would run the risk of prosecution if they said something that one section of the community did not like.

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