All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group relaunches after the election

This morning the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) held its inaugural meeting for the new Parliament to reconstitute the Group and elect officers for the following year.

The APPHG elected Labour’s Rachel Hopkins MP as Chair. She was previously Co-Chair. It also re-elected the Lib Dems’ Baroness Lorely Burt as Vice Chair and the Conservatives’ Kieran Mullan MP as Secretary. Meanwhile, new Green MP Sian Berry, a longtime patron of Humanists UK, was elected Vice Chair.

Chair: Rachel Hopkins MP (Labour)

Vice Chair: Sian Berry MP (Green)

Vice Chair: Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrats)

Secretary: Dr Kieran Mullan MP (Conservative)

The Group then heard from Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson who covered the upcoming parliamentary agenda. The current House of Commons is the most openly non-religious ever with over 40% of MPs affirming rather than swearing in. The Group has already gained a dozen new members from the new intake.

Turning to humanist policies in the new Parliament, Andrew said that new education reforms outlined in the King’s Speech were vital to closing down unregistered ‘illegal faith schools’ where at least 6, 000 children are currently trapped. On the curriculum side, the upcoming review was to be welcomed, citing positive reforms emerging from the recent Welsh curriculum review. Modernisations to the Commons and Lords hopefully should mean parliamentary prayers and bishops in the House of Lords will both be looked at. Assisted dying will be debated both through Lord Falconer’s Bill in the House of Lords as well as a future private member’s bill in the House of Commons. It is also hoped that Labour will soon back legal recognition of humanist marriages, as it promised to do repeatedly in opposition.

Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson said:

‘As one of the oldest All-Party Parliamentary Groups, having been inaugurated over 60 years ago, it is fantastic to see the APPHG return in the new Parliament, with so many new MPs joining already. We know that the Group will continue to perform its vital work to make sure that humanist causes are heard and we look forward to working with the new Officers and the members to that end.’