We don't think religious worship should play any part in the formal business of the state.
We want to see parliamentary and local government meetings conducted in a manner equally welcoming to all attendees, whatever their personal beliefs.
Parliamentary prayers
Sittings in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords begin with Anglican prayers. MPs and peers stand for prayers facing the wall behind them – a practice thought to have developed due to the difficulty members would historically have faced of kneeling to pray while wearing a sword.
When the chamber is at its busiest, parliamentary prayers act as a bizarre and antiquated seat reservation system. Even MPs and peers who are slated to speak have no option but to attend prayers in order to reserve a seat.
Whilst they may be viewed by some as an important tradition, parliamentary prayers serve to assert the superiority of Christianity (and the Church of England in particular) at Westminster. This 'tradition' is inimical to a modern, pluralistic, secular democracy.
In the Scottish Parliament, Tuesday afternoon sessions begin with 'Time for Reflection', with faith and belief representatives invited to addresses members for up to four minutes. The Northern Ireland Assembly begins formal business with a period of two minutes of silent prayer or contemplation. The Welsh Assembly has adopted no such rituals.
Parliamentarians who wish to pray are free to do so. But prayers should not form part of the official business of Parliament.
Council prayers
Many local authorities in Britain also begin their meetings with prayer.
Local democracy should be equally welcoming to all sections of society, regardless of their religion or belief. Council meetings should be conducted without anyone feeling excluded, or compelled to either participate in prayers or absent themselves from part of the meeting.
Council prayers open the door to wholly unnecessary conflict and sectarian squabbles within local authorities. There is a history of local councillors being bullied and marginalised for challenging council prayers.
The absence of prayers from the formal business of meetings in no way impedes religious freedoms or denies anybody the right to pray. Conversely, organised worship in secular settings imposes worship on those who do not share the faith. A genuine commitment to freedom of religion or belief is incompatible with including acts of worship in the formal business of council meetings.
If local authorities wish to hold a moment of silent reflection at the beginning of a meeting, or if councillors wish to meet for prayers prior to the meeting, they are at liberty to do so.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Please enter your postcode and urge your MP to support an alternative to parliamentary prayers, to make parliament more welcoming to people of all faiths and none.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue - for example, if you would like to challenge prayers at your own council.
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Eric Pickles is behaving like a dictator over council prayers
Posted: Fri, 6 Apr 2012 08:45
The National Secular Society has accused Communities Secretary Eric Pickles of behaving like a dictator by unilaterally declaring that a High Court judgment no longer applies.
Mr Pickles has issued a statement saying that the Localism Act, which has now come into effect after he fast tracked it, "enables councils to continue to include prayer as part of the formal business at council meetings." ButKeith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of theNational Secular Society, said that it was far from proven that this was the case.
Legal advice obtained by the National Secular Society says that the Localism Act doesn't give councils the powers that Mr Pickles attributes to it.
Mr Wood said: "Mr Pickles is behaving like some sort of dictator, declaring a legitimate court judgment to be overturned simply because it doesn't suit his personal religious views. In doing so, he puts councils who take him at his word at risk of being in contempt of court. It is highly irresponsible of him.
"Parliament never gave consideration to prayers during the drafting of the Localism Act, nor are prayers mentioned in it. It is only the courts who can declare whether prayers during council meetings are lawful under this Act, but this has not been tested in any court. Ministers have no authority to declare what the law is, and Mr Pickles doing so just because it suits his purposes is reprehensible."
Mr Porteous Wood's opinion was supported by an article in the Guardian in which Keith Peter-Lucas, a local government lawyer and partner at public services law firm Bevan Brittan, stated: "This general power has been oversold as a universal panacea. Despite the secretary of state confidently saying that this immediate implementation should effectively overtake Mr Justice Ouseley's ruling, the new general power may actually offer little assistance in this instance."
Similarly, Nigel Adams, head of democratic services at Cotswold District Council says: "We understand that there are people, including some eminent legal people, who are not convinced that this part of the Localism Act does what Eric Pickles says it will do."
This is Eric Pickles' statement in full:
As Easter weekend approaches, Parish Councils acrossEngland, including Bideford Town Council, have been handed a new power to continue to hold prayers as part of their formal business, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced today.
In February, the High Court ruled against Bideford Town Council, maintaining that it was illegal for councils to continue with the long-standing practice of holding prayers at the beginning of their meetings. This judgment was based on an interpretation of Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972.
In response, Eric Pickles fast-tracked the introduction of the new general power of competence for (principal) local authorities inEngland. Amongst other things, this new power enables councils to continue to include prayers as part of the formal business at council meetings, if they wish.
Following approval in both houses of Parliament, the power to include prayers has now been extended to town and parish councils, like Bideford, that meet the criteria.
This builds on the speech by the Prime Minister in Christ Church,Oxford, in December, where he asserted: "We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so".
Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: "Parliament has been clear that councils should have greater freedom from central interference. These new powers let councils innovate and also hands them back the freedom to pray.
"Bideford Town Council will be able to hold prayers once more at the start of council business. With Easter approaching, this sends a strong signal that this Government will protect the role of faith in public life against aggressive secularism."
Meanwhile, Brigg Town Council inLincolnshirehas decided to start the council meeting then suspend proceedings so that prayers can be said by a local clergyman and then resume the meeting.
This follows advice given by the Barton-based East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire Local Councils Association (ERNLLCA) which assists parish and town authorities. ERNLLCA has advised local councils against holding prayers DURING council meetings.
Brigg has chosen to open the meeting at the appointed time. The Town Mayor/chairman then asks for a resolution from councillors that the meeting should be temporarily suspended while prayers are said. ERNLLCA stresses this must be a decision made by the council, not by the Town Mayor/chairman.
Coun James Truepenny commented that he thought it important for prayers to be said as the time involved gave members "a moment for reflection".
Fareham Council Hampshire has moved prayers off the agenda to immediately before the meeting begins.
Council prayers decision continues to provoke controversy
Posted: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 11:00
A Muslim councillor in Reigate in Surrey claims he has been deselected by the local Conservative Party after he objected to the saying of Christian prayers as part of the Council meeting.
Imran Khan has represented Horley West on Reigate and Banstead Borough Council for four years but has not been selected to stand when one third of the council's seats are contested on 3 May.
He told the local Surrey Mirror newspaper: "Many of the councillors had mistakenly thought I was objecting to the notion of prayers before council which wasn't true – I was simply recommending a break between the two. However, once people get themselves worked up about something and feel upset about something they are not too open to any debate about it. I think they were all feeling pretty upset about the position I had taken."
His previous requests for the prayers to be concluded before the official start had been "totally shot down" by fellow members, he said. "Why should I be forced to stand outside during council meetings? It's not that anyone has told me to stand outside like a naughty boy but it is that, in asking me to do something which I cannot do, which is to be a part of Christian prayer, they are excluding me from what is the council business."
Mr Khan said that he thought the NSS's victory at the High Court had been "a victory for everyone who believes in local democracy and religious freedom. I think no-one should be disadvantaged because of their religion, or lack of religion, from participating in local democracy. My argument is a secular one. I believe religion has no place in politics."
Meanwhile, Dorchester Town Council in Dorset has approved a motion to abolish prayers from its meetings and not replace them with any other religious observance. The council also voted to scrap the role of mayor's chaplain.
Councillor Richard Biggs argued that there was no place for prayers and religious ceremony at council meetings in modern times. He told the Dorset Echo: "I don't think there is any place now – this is not a place of worship. In this day and age I'm not sure it's the place to have formal prayers. I think it's embarrassing for a lot of people and awkward."
Councillor Robin Potter added: "I think the town council should be a secular body."
There was also support for the move from Councillor Andy Canning, who was announced at the meeting as the mayor for the next mayoral year. He said: "Surely in this day and age faith is about personal individual conscience. In our modern society we are not about imposing our views on other people."
The recommendation was voted through with ten councillors voting for to four against, but an amendment was added to state that the mayor would use appropriate words to set the scene at the beginning of the meeting.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has decided that it will move its prayer session to 15 minutes before full council meetings.
Labour councillor Gwen Hassall put forward the motion, saying: "I want to continue with the prayers and a number of people do, but you've got to show respect to the people who find it uncomfortable. There are people who have religious differences and some are secular too.
"By doing it this way we are not offending anybody and it saves people coming to prayers who don't want to. I would hope everybody will still join in, but we shouldn't force that, just as I don't want people to stop me from taking part."
Reverend David Bickersteth, of St Peter's Church, in Blythe Bridge, said: "Making people say prayers like an old fashioned school assembly can sometimes do more harm than good and isn't very worshipful. A separate advance prayer will mean people don't feel like they have to be there.
"The Christian faith is being eroded in society all the time, but it has got to be something people want to do. You can't bulldoze people into faith."
Penkridge Parish Council in Staffordshire has decided to move prayers off the agenda so that they are said before the meeting opens. Councillor Sandra Chambers, who put forward the motion to ban prayers altogether, told a meeting of the council: "I heard councillors be disrespectful to other councillors who chose to leave the room during prayers, and I don't like that. People's beliefs should not be open to speculation, and it does put councillors on the spot. I believe that everyone who lives in Penkridge should feel represented. Our practices should not create division of any kind."
Councillor John McPheat said: "It seems to me that if councillors wish to hold prayers, they should be held before the meeting starts. I would have thought we should have them prior to the agenda being taken up. I stand because I respect the opinion of those who want prayers but I don't take part, and I choose not to involve myself."
In what the local paper described as a "bizarre" debate, Cornwall Council decided to reinstate prayers to the formal agenda of its meetings after they had been removed for two meetings. A proposal to permit faiths other than Christianity to have a look-in was rejected.
The debate was opened by a statement from Councillor David Biggs, who was opposed to having prayers as part of the formal agenda, saying he felt the council should not be "influenced by superstition". He argued prayers had no place in the council chamber and said there was also no need for them before meetings.
Councillor Morwenna Williams made a strong proclamation of her Christian beliefs and declared she believed that "the Devil is alive and at work here in this county".
Councillor Pat Lambshead said he believed Christian prayers should be part of the formal council meetings and councillors had a choice whether to remain in the chamber and participate or not. He compared the choice to choosing whether to "watch the television and pornographic channels or not to watch pornographic channels".
The council also agreed members and officers could choose whether to take part in the prayers inside the chamber or to wait outside.
Gary Selwyn a councillor on Cotswold District Council said religion should not play a part in local authority work and called for a "pledge" instead. He spoke out after the vicar of Cirencester, the Rev Canon Leonard Doolan, had prayed for the council and others. In a written question to council chairman Carolyn Nicolle, Mr Selwyn (LD, Cirencester- Watermoor) said: "Wouldn't the work done in this chamber be conducted just as effectively, and be more open, embracing and respectful of people's backgrounds and chosen beliefs, were a pledge to be adopted, rather than a prayer?" Rev Canon Doolan said "prayer is in everybody's interest."
Councillor Gail Marchant-Daisley, who represents Petersfield for Labour, had asked for prayers to be replaced with a minute of reflection. After the meeting, she said: "This isn't about bashing Christians or anyone else. It's that the saying of prayers of any denomination at the start of council meetings is inconsistent with the council's policy on equality and potentially excludes people of other faith or none.
Councillor Nimmo-Smith said: "I find that having a brief moment of reflection brings solemnity to the relatively few occasions when the full council is gathered together, and I think that something that has had a long history does have a place.
"But I'm open to how other councillors feel and whatever we do shouldn't bind the hands of future mayors."
Cambridge City Council has launched a review into whether prayers should continue or whether they should be dropped.
Jenny Bailey, mayor in 2007/8, appointed a Buddhist chaplain, while Jack Warren, twice mayor in the 1960s and 1970s, did not have one.
Atheist Councillor Colin Rosenstiel of the Market ward of Cambridge City Council said the religious elements of the role was a factor in why he had never wanted to be mayor, despite having been first elected in 1973. But Councillor Rosenstiel added: "I actually believe fairly strongly that the present arrangements should continue, despite being an atheist – it's a thing for the serving mayor. Those of us whose family backgrounds aren't from this country have to have some respect for the long Christian tradition in this country."
Louth Town Council in Lincolnshire has decided to hold prayers before the meeting starts until the matter can be properly discussed.
Ludlow Town Council in Shropshire will hold prayers before the meeting opens.
North East Lincolnshire Council has decided to separate prayers from official council business.
Lyme Regis Council in Devon has moved prayers to 15 minutes before the start of the council meeting.
Market Rasen Council in Lincolnshire will have prayers before official business commences.
Brackley Town Council decided to remove prayers from official business
Falmouth Town Council will now conduct prayers before the official business begins.
Stroud District Council has prayers separate from official business
Cheltenham Borough Council has replaced prayers with a minute of silent reflection
Ilminster Town Council in Somerset now has prayers 15 minutes before the council meeting begins.
Gedling Borough Council in Nottinghamshire is keeping prayers on the agenda according to one resident there who has contacted us.
Ryedale District Council in Yorkshire defied the law and continues to include prayers on its agenda, causing two councillors to walk out in protest. Liberal councillors Tommy Woodward and Luke Richardson waited outside the council chamber at Ryedale House until the chaplain had finished. Councillor Woodward said later: "I am neither prepared to be a hypocrite nor a law breaker and so took it upon myself to leave the chamber."
