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Editorial begins: "The Labour party is revelling the new found confidence of an Opposition which is at last recovering from its third successive electoral defeat. The consequent euphoria, however, has led its leader to stray from the paths of accepted invective." It suggests that Mr Kinnock will not suffer the fate of Salman Rushdie but an apology is in order.

Subhead: "Cheap and nasty mud-slinging"
Bishop of East Anglia wrote to Neil Kinnock complaining that he has abused Catholic beliefs in a speech at the Labour party's Red Rose rally in Birmingham.

The labour leader's attempts at humour fall flat.

Peterborough column reports on the complaint by Senior Catholic clergy regarding the words used by Mr. Kinnock during a speech at a Labour party rally.

In a letter to Cardinal Hume, Mr Kinnock said he regretted his remarks. Catholic Bishops had told him that his remarks at a Labour rally in Birmingham had deeply offended thousands of his own supporters.

The article starts: " The Bishop of East Anglia today accused Neil Kinnock of putting his political credentials at risk by abusing Catholic beliefs." The bishop wants an apology from Mr Kinnock. Fr Dowsey accused the Labour leader of blasphemy and degrading Catholic teaching.

From the letters page, a letter from Duke of Norfolk: "... Mr. Kinnock's remarks are profoundly offensive."

subhead: "'Immaculate misconception' jibe at Labour rally angers cardinal, bishops and Duke. Opposition leader expresses 'regret'"
The use of Marian imagery to ridicule the Prime Minister earned condemnation from many.

[undated; unattributed]
Reports Mr Kinnock's response to complaints: "The words were neither blasphemous in the intention nor meaning. If any believer has been offended I naturally regret it."

Commenting that Kinnock has fallen into "the all-too easy trap of treating Christians as something rather quaint and amusing, the butt of cheap puns. And cheap is very much the tone of Mr Kinnock's attack."
The leader suggests the time is right for a reform of antiquated blasphemy laws - being unworkable. Perhaps Christians should turn the other cheek?

Mr Kinnock's words went way beyond what is acceptable - however "he was playing with words in a careless and insensitive way."