UK Parliament / Open data

Equality Bill [Lords]

Proceeding contribution from Gerald Howarth (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Monday, 16 January 2006. It occurred during Debate on bills on Equality Bill (HL).
That has happened in plenty of cases where the decision was changed under public protest. There was a proposal to rename the Christmas festival ““Winterval””, for the express reason that Christmas might be offensive to Muslims. All the Muslims whom I know find it deeply offensive that Christians are not prepared to stand up and say, ““This is an ancient festival and part of our national life.”” Departments are falling over themselves to be seen to celebrate minority religious festivals, often spending thousands of pounds of public money. Over Christmas, Mr. Paxman could not bring himself to use BC—before Christ—and had to resort to something called, ““BCE””. I wonder whether you know what that means, Mr. Speaker. I understand that it means—

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

441 c667-8 

Session

2005-06

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber
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