Dead heat in North's gay equality vote

A Northern Assembly motion condemning plans by the British government to introduce equality legislation for gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the New Year fell today after a dead heat.

Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson and his Assembly colleague George Dawson had claimed Northern Secretary Peter Hain's plan to introduce a new law on January 1 would place Christian-run businesses unfairly on the wrong side of the law if they refused access to their goods and services on "ethical grounds".