Following on from last week's defeat of a government bill to outlaw “abusive and insulting” criticism of religion, Philip Pullman and Nicholas Hytner (director of HDM at the National Theatre) are leading renewed calls for the repeal of the existing blasphemy laws in Britain – which apply solely to the Church of England. “Religion,” said Pullman, “like every other form of human thought, [has to] take its chance in free, open debate.” Read more.