Commenting ahead of the Cabinet discussion of House of Lords Reform, Hanne Stinson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association has called for any proposals to include the removal of the Bishops who sit in the Lords as of right. Ms Stinson said, ‘The UK is the only Western democracy to give religious representatives the automatic right to sit in our legislature and this anachronism should be top of the list for reformers. Modern Britain is a society with a staggering diversity of religious and non-religious beliefs. Continuing to privilege one denomination in this way is preposterous. It would be equally unacceptable to extend such privileges to all faiths. If the proposed reform includes appointments to the Lords these should all be on pesonal merit. We could have no objection to the occasional Bishop or other religious leader being appointed on that basis. Reflecting on the likelihood that the Government would propose the removal of this religious privilege, Ms Stinson was doubtful: ‘The fact that the Government faced up to religious pressure recently over gay adoption has given some people reason to hope that they will not be as intimidated by religious lobbying in the future, but the u-turn on faith school admissions last year and the recent bowing to religious pressure over issues such as religion or belief discrimination are not reassuring. The Church is already lobbying hard on this issue and I am afraid I would not be surprised if the Government caves in yet again.’
NOTES
An Ipsos MORI poll in October 2006 showed that more people think that the government pays too much attention to ‘religious groups and leaders’ than to any other domestic group. Click here for more details.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) represents and supports the non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.
For further comment contact Hanne Stinson on 020 7079 3583 or Andrew Copson (education and public affairs) on 07855380633.