Humanists UK enjoyed party conference success as it attended Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Green Party conferences this year. Staff attended the Conservative and Labour Party conferences, organising informative and impactful fringes at each, and attended fringes at the Green and Liberal Democrats conference too.
Humanists UK is not party-political but we attend party conferences in order to meet with parliamentarians and other influential stakeholders to advocate for humanist issues, and to engage with our party-political members and supporters.
At the Liberal Democrats conference our Chief Executive joined the Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats panel on assisted dying on 24 September. The well-attended event was chaired by Christine Jardine and other panellists included Graham Winyard from My Death, My Decision, and Baroness Brinton.
Humanists UK staff attended the Conservative Party Conference, speaking to over 30 MPs including key Secretaries of State, several peers, and London Assembly Members, and hosted a fringe entitled Right to offend? The battle against blasphemy laws at home and abroad, which featured Aaron Bell MP, Cllr Neil Garratt AM; Conservative Humanist’s Chair James Baird, and Humanists UK’s Public Affairs Manager Karen Wright. A video was recorded by Prithu Sanyal, a persecuted Bangladeshi activist, to share his story for the fringe.
Our Assisted Dying Campaigner Nathan Stilwell spoke at the launch of Green Humanists at Green Party Conference on October 6. Nathan shared the work of Humanist Climate Action, Humanist UK’s human rights and education work, and why now is a particularly good time for the launch of an official Green Party Humanist Group.
At the Labour Party Conference we packed out the room at our annual drinks reception on 9 October. This featured high profile speakers including Sarah Owen MP, Shadow Faith and Belief Minister; Lord Dubs; Dame Angela Eagle MP; Rachel Hopkins MP; Tom Copley, London City Hall Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development; Polly Toynbee, The Guardian; chair of Labour Humanist’s Rachel Taggart-Ryan; and Andrew Copson, Humanists UK’s Chief Executive. The panel covered a range of topics important to humanists – from the need for an assisted dying law to humanist marriage. The following day, we held a joint fringe entitled Right to believe? How will Labour uphold Freedom of Religion or Belief? with Christians on the Left.
As well as holding two fringes, we had an exhibition stand calling for legal recognition of humanist marriages at the Labour conference and spoke to 50 MPs, including key shadow secretaries and ministers, peers, and many councillors.
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Kathy Riddick at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 3675 0959.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 110,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.