Take action! Write to your candidates to find out their views on these issues.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) has today published a table comparing seven major parties’ policies to key issues of concern to humanists at the 2015 UK general election. The table analyses the parties’ manifestos and outlines their views on ‘faith’ schools, RE, PSHE and SRE, collective worship, bishops in the House of Lords, humanist marriage, the Human Rights Act, assisted dying, and abortion. It compares the policies of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Scottish National Party, the Green Party of England and Wales, and Plaid Cymru.
For example, on ‘Will your party end religious selection in school admissions?’, the table records:
- Conservatives: Supportive of ‘faith’ schools. The Coalition Government ‘supports inclusive admission arrangements’, but the Conservatives have no plans to reduce the degree of religious selection.
- Labour: Supportive of ‘faith’ schools and have not committed to reducing the percentage of places which they are able to select in admissions, but have committed to a review of the admissions system more generally.
- Liberal Democrats: Supportive of ‘faith’ schools but ‘We will ensure all faith schools develop an inclusive admissions policy and end unfair discrimination on grounds of faith when recruiting staff, except for those principally responsible for optional religious instruction.’
- UKIP: Have voiced support for ‘faith’ schools including religious discrimination in employment. No stated plans to reduce religious selection in school admissions.
- Scottish National Party: Matter is devolved in Scotland but the SNP Government is supportive of ‘faith’ schools and has not taken steps to limit religious selection by denominational schools in Scotland.
- Green Party of England and Wales: ‘We will phase out public funding of schools run by religious organisations. Schools may teach about religions, but should not encourage adherence to any particular religious beliefs.’
- Plaid Cymru: No stated policy. Matter is devolved in Wales.
On ‘Will your party remove the bishops from the House of Lords?’, the table records:
- Conservatives: No plans to reform the House of Lords: ‘While we still see a strong case for introducing an elected element into our second chamber, this is not a priority in the next Parliament’.
- Labour: ‘Labour is committed to replacing the House of Lords with an elected Senate of the Nations and Regions, to represent every part of the United Kingdom, and to improve the democratic legitimacy of the second chamber.’
- Liberal Democrats: ‘We will: Reform the House of Lords with a proper democratic mandate, starting from the proposals in the 2012 Bill.’ The 2012 Bill had some reserved seats for bishops, but party policy is that there should be a fully elected second chamber.
- UKIP: No stated policy.
- Scottish National Party: ‘The SNP believes the House of Lords should be scrapped and replaced with a fully elected second chamber.’
- Green Party of England and Wales: ‘The Green Party will: Reform the House of Lords to become a fully elected body chosen by PR’.
- Plaid Cymru: ‘We want to see an elected House of Lords, elected by Single Transferable Vote, while decisions affecting Wales continue to be made there.’
On ‘Will your party legalise humanist marriages?’, the table records:
- Conservatives: No plans to legalise. The Prime Minister’s Office blocked the legal recognition of humanist marriage last year. The Government instead asked the Law Commission to review wider marriage law, which may take several years.
- Labour: Have pledged to give legal recognition to humanist marriages if returned to power.
- Liberal Democrats: ‘To promote equality in relationships… we will: Permit humanist weddings.’ Have described the ban on humanist marriage is ‘illiberal and unfair’.
- UKIP: No stated policy.
- Scottish National Party: Matter is devolved and humanist marriage is already legal in Scotland. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act, proposed by the SNP Government, established a separate category of ‘belief-based’ marriage for non-religious organisations and hence clarified and strengthened the relevant legal provisions.
- Green Party of England and Wales: ‘Clearly the law should allow those who wish to have a humanist marriage ceremony the same rights as couples who want a religious ceremony with the celebrant of their choice. The Green Party is committed to ending the current discrimination as soon as possible.’
- Plaid Cymru: No stated policy.
In addition to the new table, the BHA has created a tool through which constituents can write to their candidates about these issues and find out their individual views, and has also produced a guide for use by supporters at hustings and on doorsteps. A number of affiliated humanist groups have also been organising hustings in their areas.
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For further information, please contact Campaigns Manager Richy Thompson on 020 7324 3072.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.