Reform UK has announced plans to ‘restore Britain’s Christian heritage’, which – according to Home Affairs Spokesperson Zia Yusuf in The Times – includes introducing a patriotic curriculum based on Christianity and automatically designating all churches as listed buildings to restore Britain’s Christian heritage. This is despite the 2021 Census showing more non-religious than Christians among those under 67, and church-going continuing to decline. Humanists UK expressed its dismay that US-style Christian Nationalism continues to increase its profile in UK politics.
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said:
‘Most of us in Britain aren’t Christian in our beliefs, practices, or identity. Although Christianity has contributed to our heritage, pre-Christian, non-Christian, and post-Christian influences have been just as important. The only basis for national identity in our country is around the shared values and institutions of our plural society. Christian Nationalism is a divisive dead end.’
British Social Attitudes Survey data analysed by Humanists UK have shown that churchgoing, including among Gen Z, has continued its long-term decline. The findings are consistent with the Church of England’s and Catholic Church’s own church attendance records.
Humanists UK has continuously raised the alarm about the rise in Christian Nationalism in the UK, with worrying incidents such as Christian preachers denouncing ‘Secular Humanism’ from the main stage of Tommy Robinson’s radical right Unite the Kingdom rally in London in September 2025, and a homophobic religious mob in October 2025 calling themselves the ‘King’s Army’ organised an intimidating mob in the streets of London’s gay district shouting anti-gay and Christian Nationalist slogans at passersby.
Research from the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) comparing the UK to the US has shown a broad liberal consensus in the UK on issues relating to reproductive rights and relationships that cuts across religious and non-religious people. Humanists UK has said this shows that this sudden adoption of Christian Nationalist as a political strategy ‘is an American import’.
In April 2024, Humanists UK reported that the Alliance Defending Freedom was investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Europe, particularly the UK, to further the political agenda it successfully pursued in the United States, which to date has seen the overturning of Roe v Wade and constitutional protections for abortion rights. More recently, Christian Nationalists in the United States have attempted to unpick separation of church and state as it applies to American schools.
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only).
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 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.
What is Christian Nationalism?
Christian Nationalism is the name for an ultra-conservative form of religious nationalism that seeks to fuse politics with Christianity, and for the government to promote, or actively enforce, religious interests and their favoured policies. It is opposed to the separation of church and state and to all forms of religious pluralism – such as learning about other beliefs and cultures. More generally, it advocates very conservative Christian social policies, such as rolling back the human rights of LGBT+ people and abortion rights. It staunchly opposes people having choice at the end of life, on the basis that their religion forbids assisted dying.
Read more about our work on rising Christian Nationalism.
Read our statement of solidarity with humanists in the United States.