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The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.

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MPs speak out against bishops in parliament

The proposals to retain reserves places for Church of England Bishops in a reformed House of Lords was widely criticised by MPs in a House of Commons debate yesterday (Tuesday 10 July), however, due to widespread disagreements with the proposals, they are unlikely to return for further discussion before Parliament’s summer recess.A range of MPs objected to the continued presence of the bishops. Karl Turner MP said ‘Surely if we are trying to increase democracy and legitimacy, having ex-officio religious positions is, in itself discriminatory.’ Thomas Docherty MP’s comment that ‘I do not

Holy Redundant! BHA launches campaign to remove Bishops from Parliament

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has today launched its campaign to remove reserved seats for the Bishops from the House of Lords. The campaign, ‘Holy Redundant ’, follows on from the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill reporting on Monday  in support of the Government’s proposals to keep reserved seats for Bishops in a reformed second chamber by a vote of 13-7.The new BHA website debunks arguments used in support of keeping Bishops in the Lords. It encourages supporters to write

Church and humanists clash over Bishops in parliament

The conflicting views of the Church of England and the British Humanist Association (BHA) were clear at today’s evidence session on Bishops sitting in the House of Lords, the ‘Lords Spiritual’. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive, were both invited to give evidence to the parliamentary Joint Committee looking at the draft House of Lords Reform Bill on Monday 28 November. The BHA had, last month, submitted detailed written evidence to the Committee opposing and criticising the government’s proposals on the Bishops

‘No legitimate reason to keep Bishops in the Lords’: British Humanists to give evidence to Committee

There is no legitimate reason to keep automatic places for Bishops in the House of Lords, and the government’s proposals to do so undermine equality and represent a religious privilege insupportable in today’s society, the British Humanist Association (BHA) will tell the Joint Committee taking evidence on the draft House of Lords Reform Bill.BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson is to give evidence in a session following evidence from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who supports the retention of Bishops. Commenting on the forthcoming evidence session, Mr Copson said, ‘Our

Even the Church thinks the government has gone too far in its proposals for Bishops in the Lords

Bishops sitting in the House of Lords should not be exempt from “serious offence provisions” the Church of England stated today , opposing the government’s proposals set out in its draft House of Lords Reform Bill. The British Humanist Association (BHA), which had strongly criticised the government’s proposals in its own submission to the parliamentary Joint Committee currently scrutinising the Bill,

Government explains why it wants to keep the Church of England in the House of Lords

‘The Bishops see their role as speaking for those of all faiths’ – the Government has explained why it wants to keep the Church of England in the House of Lords.Asked why it had proposed reserved seats for Church of England Bishops in a reformed House of Lords, the government provided a number of unconvincing reasons, including that the ‘Bishops see their role as speaking for those of all faiths’. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has criticised the response and said that the Government ‘is yet to provide a proper justification’ for its proposals. Chair of the All Party

Government proposals actually increase proportion of unelected, Church of England Bishops in Parliament

The Government’s proposal to retain 12 reserved seats for Church of England Bishops would actually mean an increase proportionately of the presence of Bishops in the House of Lords. Keeping any reserved seats for the Bishops would be an affront to democracy and antithetical to the aims of a fairer and more egalitarian parliament, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has claimed.The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg set out the Government’s plans in a statement to the House of Commons from 15.30 on Tuesday 17 May. The Government’s proposals include a significant reduction in membership of

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