From Saturday to Wednesday this past week, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has had a presence at the Liberal Democrats’ autumn conference, including hosting a fringe event on Tuesday on what the coming five years has in store for Liberal Democrats now that the party is no longer in government. Former All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group MPs Baroness Lorely Burt, Dr Evan Harris, and Ian Swales all spoke at the standing-room-only event, which was chaired by BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson.
Dr Evan Harris spoke first, talking about the blow of the loss of a number of humanist MPs at the last election, contrasting with the growing support for positive change seen in the Lords, as seen with equalities legislation, same-sex marriage, and assisted dying. Evan pointed to the Coalition agreement’s support for inclusive school admissions and lamented that the Lib Dems weren’t able to do more in government to enforce this. He praised new party leader Tim Farron MP as someone that humanist Lib Dems could work with on issues such as equalities and removing bishops from the House of Lords.
Baroness Burt talked about how in her view, humanists and Lib Dems have a lot in common. She argued that both groups are independent thinkers, led by evidence, that look to science more than religion as a basis for decision-making. But both groups are also respectful of those of faith. Lib Dems and humanists share a common belief in equality and the secular state, and work outside the establishment in their own respective domains.
Ian Swales emphasised the importance of equality of opportunity, and focussed on the deficit around religious schools. He talked about his experience of a creationist Academy opening near him during the last Labour administration, and the importance of schools teaching an inclusive but evidence-based curriculum. He also pointed out the importance of tolerance, and that this drives his support for assisted dying for the terminally ill and incurably suffering, and for same-sex marriage. During the Same-Sex Marriage Act debates, when religious constituents wrote to him opposing legalisation, he would reply pointing out that his tolerance meant he would not ban faith groups from restricting their marriage services to just opposite-sex couples – so why, he asked, should faith groups be able to similarly restrict the marriages of others?
Questions from the floor focussed on assisted dying, humanist marriages, the need for inclusive religious education and an end to collective worship in schools, the contributions of different religion and belief groups to the Liberal Democrats in the UK, and local actions individuals can take to, for example, make the religious content of their local newspapers inclusive of those of no religion.
The British Humanist Association is also holding fringe events and has stalls at the Labour and Conservative party conferences, and is attending the conferences of three other parties. Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats, the BHA-affiliated Lib Dem group, also held two fringe events at the Lib Dem conference, including an address by BHA Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns Pavan Dhaliwal.
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For further comment or information contact BHA Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns Pavan Dhaliwal at pavan@humanists.uk or on 0773 843 5059.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethically 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 of belief.