Two sessions on the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill today. I have to introduce our amendments in what is a gigantic group of amendments, but Dominic Grieve goes first for the Tories. Our (Lib Dem) amendments are in three groups. One deals with the threshold for prosecution. Labour are changing one of the race definitions for prosecutions to another definition which would seem to need to lower the bar for such a prosecution but which the Minister, Paul Goggins, was arguing wasn’t a lowering of the bar.

It all gets very arcane (though no less important for that) very quickly – we went on to arguments about phrases such as ‘intent’ and ‘likely to likely’ as a level of probability, risk or recklessness.

I was relatively brief again (heartily welcomed I felt by most) and did refer to the whole thing being a ‘likely’ mess resulting in a ‘likely’ feast for lawyers.

And thus after numerous further arguments the sessions closed and the Bill will now go back to the House for its third reading.

Off in the event to the Haringey Race Equality Council’s AGM – where I say a few words to the assembled audience. All the communities are involved and it is always a pleasure to support all those involved in working to improve community issues and relationships in Haringey – just the best melting pot in anywhere in London in my view.