Listen very carefully, I will say this only once

The Mail, the Telegraph and other media who love the Christianophobia story have done a very good job.

In a parliamentary question last week, Karl McCartney, the Conservative MP for Lincoln, asked Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Women and Equalities, “if she will bring forward legislative proposals to protect workers who choose to wear a visible cross or crucifix.”

Featherstone replied: “There is nothing in domestic law that denies people the right to wear visibly a religious symbol such as a cross or crucifix while at work. Employers need to have proportionate and legitimate reasons—for instance in order to comply with health and safety requirements—if they want to restrict their employees from openly wearing any religious item.
“We believe that domestic law already strikes the right balance between the rights of employees to manifest their faith and that of employers to place legitimate and appropriate restrictions on that freedom. There are no current plans to change the law in this respect.”

Just to make that extra clear: There is nothing in domestic law that denies people the right to wear visibly a religious symbol such as a cross or crucifix while at work.

A couple of weeks ago, Lord Alton asked whether the Government has "any plans to clarify the law in respect of Christians wishing to wear a cross in the workplace."

Baroness Verma replied for the Government, saying:

"No. We have no plans to change the law. At present there is nothing in UK law that denies people the right to express their religious views - including through the wearing of a religious symbol such as a cross - while at work. Employers need to have proportionate and legitimate reasons if they want to restrict their employees from openly wearing a cross or any other religious item. We believe that in this respect domestic law strikes the right balance between the rights of employees to manifest their faith and that of employers to place legitimate restrictions on that where appropriate, for instance in order to ensure patient safety or for health and safety reasons."

Again, for clarity: At present there is nothing in UK law that denies people the right to express their religious views - including through the wearing of a religious symbol such as a cross - while at work.

What’s more, the health and safety requirements don’t just apply to crosses, they apply to all jewellery.

How much clearer can it be? No one is stopping you wearing a religious symbol to work unless it’s a danger either to you or other people. No one is stopping Christians going to church. No one is banning Christmas. No one is stopping you standing up in Parliament asking the same question over and over so that the Mail and the Telegraph can write about it again so that more people can believe the lie and get worked up.

Doesn’t McCartney follow what happens in the Lords? Maybe he already knew the answer and thought that if he asked again he might get a different one that he liked better. Or maybe that no one would remember Lord Alton asking it. Or that if a lie is repeated enough times, it will become true.

Small children think that asking the same question over and over will wear down the adults until they give in. Small children think that not always getting what they want means they are being punished or deprived. Small children have tantrums when they don’t get their own way. It’s a shame no one can put these brats on the naughty step.

2 September 2012: Latest update from the National Secular Society