Church employment freedom vote

The details

The Labour Government’s Equality Bill, debated by Parliament in 2009-10, sought to consolidate all discrimination laws into a single Act. Yet the Bill as introduced would have significantly narrowed an existing religious liberty safeguard that allows religious groups, including churches, to protect their ethos by insisting that staff live consistently with the Bible’s teaching on sexual conduct.

On 2 December 2009 the House of Commons voted on an amendment to the Bill which would have retained the existing employment safeguard for religious organisations.

The amendment, proposed by Labour MP David Drew, was defeated by 314 votes to 170. Government MPs were whipped to oppose the amendment; Conservatives were whipped in support of the amendment. Lib Dem MPs voted 38 to six against the amendment.

Later, on 25 January 2010, the House of Lords supported Lady O’Cathain’s amendment to keep the existing safeguard three times in successive votes and the Government eventually gave way.

How we recorded the vote

• Voted for preserving the existing employment freedoms of churches and religious organisations in the Equality Bill
• Voted for narrowing the existing employment freedoms of churches and religious organisations in the Equality Bill
• Abstained or was absent on the vote for preserving the existing employment freedoms of churches and religious organisations in the Equality Bill