Reform councillor demands Christian-only RE to end ‘brainwashing’

Humanists UK has condemned remarks by Reform UK councillor David Fitzgerald, who told Northumberland County Council that children should only be taught Christianity in Religious Education (RE) because exposure to other religions might ‘brainwash’ them.

Cllr Fitzgerald, who sits on the council’s Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), said he was ‘totally against’ pupils learning about non-Christian religions. He argued that the UK is a ‘Christian country’ and must remain so. This is despite fewer than half of people in England and Wales identifying as Christian according to the 2021 Census, and over half identifying with ‘no religion’ in the British Social Attitudes Survey.

The irony is that, although Cllr Fitzgerald wants to shield children from a broad education in order to avoid ‘brainwashing’ them, he is calling for them to be taught only Christianity, without coverage of other religions or non-religious views. 

Cllr Fitzgerald’s remarks prompted strong criticism, with local MPs writing to the council to demand his removal from the Northumberland SACRE – the local body responsible for the content of RE. One MP described his comments as undermining inclusion and fuelling ‘knee-jerk hatred.’

Genuine reform of RE needed

Humanists UK campaigns for a broad, balanced, and inclusive education system. We have long argued that all children deserve RE that introduces them to a wide range of religions and non-religious worldviews, including humanism. Such teaching is vital for equipping young people to live together in today’s diverse society. 

Our work has shown that references to humanism in many local RE syllabuses remain superficial or absent altogether. That is why we continue to campaign for RE to be reformed and made part of the National Curriculum, ensuring it is inclusive, comprehensive, and genuinely educational. Our Understanding Humanism website provides free resources for teachers to better cover humanism as part of a broad and balanced RE curriculum. Many humanists participate as members of their local SACREs (or SACs in Wales) on that same basis.

Humanists UK’s Education Campaigns Manager Lewis Young said:

‘Cllr Fitzgerald’s comments are a reminder of why our work is so essential. Attempts to narrow children’s horizons, and limit their education, must be resisted. Education should never be a tool of indoctrination – it must be about preparing young people to think freely, understand others, and contribute positively to society.’