There was a full house at the BHA’s third annual “no prayer breakfast” meeting at the Labour Party conference, held in conjunction with Labour Humanists. The BHA is holding fringe events at the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour conferences this autumn, where the BHA also has a stand in the exhibition area at each.
BHA President Polly Toynbee, BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson, and members of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group Lady Dianne Hayter and Kelvin Hopkins MP joined Labour Humanists chair Paul Blanchard to discuss the question ‘What role for non-religious people in opposition?’ Speakers were encouraged to identify those policies and areas that they believe Labour should focus on during its time in opposition.
Polly Toynbee said it was time for Labour to review their policies on faith schools in opposition. Kelvin Hopkins said Labour should commit to a secular state. Lady Hayter said that it was important for Labour humanists to make themselves heard within the Labour party as a strong and positive progressive voice. Andrew Copson wanted Labour humanists to challenge the contracting out of public services to religious organisations allowed to discriminate in employment and service provision and to make the case for universal secular public services.
The issue of ‘faith schools’ was returned to in discussions from the floor, as was the positive work done by humanists in the community such as the provision of non-religious funerals and hospital visitors.
We ‘tweeted’ updates during the meeting and will continue to do so throughout our time and activities at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative conferences. Follow us @BHANews.