A Reform UK councillor chaired a meeting at which a Welsh far-right hate group spread ‘untrue’ claims about religious education, a Swansea primary school has claimed.
Reform councillor Francesca O’Brien chaired the meeting alongside members of Voice of Wales – a group designated as a hate organisation by Hope Not Hate, with links to the former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson. The meeting centred on entirely unsubstantiated allegations that pupils at Sea View Community Primary School had been forced to pray on Muslim mats and recite Islamic prayers. The school has said the accusations are ‘untrue’.
The story has since been amplified by extremist networks that have a track record of stirring up anti-Muslim sentiment. The school’s Religion, Values, and Ethics teaching, like that across Wales, follows the Curriculum and Assessment Act, which requires lessons to reflect the diversity of beliefs in modern society – including both religions and humanism. Outside of Christian faith schools, no religion may be taught as true, and pupils cannot be forced to engage in religious acts.
The events follow a recent case in Northumberland where a Reform UK councillor claimed that learning about non-religious views or religions other than Christianity in RE was tantamount to ‘brainwashing’.
Christian Nationalism in Wales
In June, far-right group Voice of Wales condemned the Relationships Education curriculum, which it falsely claimed was ‘teaching sex education from age 3’. Previously, unevidenced claims about the curriculum brought by another group were heard and dismissed by the High Court in 2022. In April, Voice of Wales objected to LGBT+ charities being permitted to advertise in Swansea city centre, claiming Swansea Council was ‘push[ing] LGBT’. Nation Cymru also reports that the group recently published claims that Swansea children were being ‘abducted’ by migrant men.
Last week, the group said on its Facebook page that it was working to resist ‘godless Marxists determined to destroy our Christian culture’ and that ‘Britain is, and always will be, a Christian Nation’. It later accused the Church of England of ‘betraying’ Christianity after new Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally gave a sermon saying that ‘Hatred and racism cannot tear us apart.’
Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Humanists UK, said:
‘We’re concerned to see a hate group like Voice of Wales so active in local politics and schools in Swansea. It’s an example of how a narrow vision of extreme Christian Nationalism is being advanced in local government across the UK in 2025.
‘Humanists UK campaigns for the reform of religious education, and school-related requests for help, advice, and guidance constitute the largest single category of requests that we receive from the public. We are generally pleased with the provision of balanced RVE in Wales and will continue to support fair and unbiased education across the country.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Read our guide for non-religious parents and young people in Wales.
Read more about our work on religious education.
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.