LONDON - The British government's plans to reform the divorce laws received a major setback last night when Tory MPs, including many senior party figures, inflicted a damaging 200-196 Commons defeat on the Bill.
Four cabinet ministers - Mr Michael Howard, Mr Peter Lilley, Mr Stephen Dorrell and Mr William Hague - led 165 Conservatives, including 34 ministers, through the division lobbies in favour of an amendment to extend the proposed "cooling off" period before a divorce can be granted from one year to 18 months.
The vote was seen as a personal blow to the Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay.
