Fury over new gay hate laws which 'threaten free speech'

The Tory, Labour and Lib-Dem MPs are demanding an amendment be introduced to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill to make sure religious leaders are not prosecuted for criticising homosexual lifestyles.

They are threatening to force a vote on an issue which has split Gordon Brown's Cabinet.

If successful, they would embarrass the Premier and Justice Minister Jack Straw, who has attempted to drive through the provision despite opposition from ministers led by Attorney General Baroness Scotland.

The amendment says nothing should prohibit or restrict "discussion of, criticism of, or expression of antipathy towards conduct relating to a particular sexual orientation, or urging persons of a particular sexual orientation to refrain from or modify conduct according to that orientation".

It mirrors a similar clause in Labour's laws against incitement to religious hatred which was forced through only after a protracted battle in Parliament.

The proposed law against incitement to hatred of homosexuals would carry a maximum penalty of seven years in jail - a longer sentence than the five years handed down to a typical rapist.

It is considered so severe that it has drawn criticism from some homosexuals.

They include Christopher Biggins, actor and winner of last year's I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here, the former Tory MP and journalist Matthew Parris and the human and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

In Parliament, the amendment has so far been signed by Conservatives Edward Leigh, Bob Spink, Stephen Crabb, Philip Davies, Ann Widdecombe and Philip Hollobone and LibDems Alan Beith and Colin Breed.

Jim Dobbin, David Taylor and Geraldine Smith were among early signatories from the Labour benches and it is expected that many more will join them before the Bill returns tomorrow to the Commons, where it is in its final stages.

Mr Dobbin, MP for Middleton and Heywood, said: "We are not having a go at the gay community but are trying to protect ministers of religion who might want to preach from the pulpit or express concerns in other ways."

Miss Widdecombe said the amendment was vital to stop the further erosion of the right to free speech.

"For the first time in our history you can have a policeman knocking on your door not for something you have done but for an opinion you have expressed and that should be totally contrary to the British way of life," she said.

A month ago Church of England and Roman Catholic bishops united to warn that: "Christians engaged in teaching or preaching and those seeking to act in accord with Christian convictions in their daily lives need to be assured that the expression of strong opinions on marriage or sexuality will not be illegal."

They said the police had already shown themselves to be "over-zealous" against Christians who have publicly expressed traditional views on sexuality.

In 2006 Joe and Helen Roberts, a retired couple from Fleetwood, Lancashire, were questioned by police officers for 80 minutes on their attitudes to homosexuality after they complained to their council about its promotion of civil partnership ceremonies and the distribution of gay rights leaflets in public buildings.

They later won £10,000 in compensation and a cringeing apology from Wyre Borough Council.

Neil Addison, the barrister who represented the couple, said: "Increasingly "hate crime" laws are being used to harass and intimidate ordinary people who dare to disagree with PC orthodoxy."

The gay pressure group Stonewall says the law will permit religious leaders to continue to express their views provided they are temperate and polite.