There's a fascinating piece in the issue of Asharq al-Awsat (an Arab daily published in London) dated 13th April. The contents are in Arabic, but I am able to publish a translation:

The ruling British Labour Party is pursuing its ongoing efforts to restore favour with the country’s Muslims before the election. The Home Secretary Charles Clarke has officially apologised for the government’s about turn on its decision to pass a law criminalising incitement of hatred against Muslims on the grounds of their faith. The law was to have been passed during the parliamentary session which ended last Monday. He made a careful point of mentioning the Liberal Democrat Party’s antipathy towards the law. Commentators accused Clarke of exploiting the issue of Muslim rights in order to make political gain. This unprecedented apology comes around four weeks before the general elections on 5 May. Yesterday’s message to all mosques in the length and breadth of the country placed the blame for the failure of the legislation with the two main opposition parties. The Home Secretary started his letter, obtained by Asharq al-Awsat, by expressing deep regret that the Liberal Democrat and Conservative opposition had forced the government to drop the measure before the parliamentary session ended. He pledged to bring the measure to a vote in the next session. He stressed his party’s commitment to supporting Muslims and making sure they were treated the same as other religious adherents.

In a clear attempt to turn Muslims against the other parties he said “They bare the full responsibility for blocking this law”. He pointed out that they had never hidden their intention to vote against the law. To the mosque leaders he added “I believe that you and rest of British Muslims will carefully weigh up the situation, especially with respect to the opposition shown by the Liberal Democrats”.

Significantly, in some areas where there are a number of potential voters opposed to the Iraq war, it is the Liberal Democrats who are poised to defeat Labour. Most Labour and Conservative MPs voted in favour of the war, while the Liberal Democrats opposed it, increasing their level of support among British Muslims.

Inayat Bunglawala, Secretary of Media Affairs for the Muslim Council of Britain, said that the failure of the other two parties did not excuse the government for not passing the law. He pointed out the bill had not been given enough time for sufficient parliamentary debate. In a telephone conversation with Asharq al-Awsat, he confirmed that British Muslims feel profoundly disappointed that the measure was withdrawn. He added “We are waiting for the Labour manifesto tomorrow. If it doesn’t mention the incitement to religious hatred legislation as part of their commitment if they form the next government, they are clearly not interested in supporting Muslims”. In 2001 the Labour Government backed off an attempt to introduce a similar law.

The story is fascinating. I have dealt before (here and here) with Mike O'Brien's worrying piece in Muslim News. This latest example of Labour pandering and sycophancy shows how the driving force behind the proposed religious discrimation law, and much of Labour's tactics, is not whether a law is needed, or appropriate, but whether it will curry favour with the Muslim vote.