As the heart of the UK’s democracy, Parliament should epitomise the values of British society. Chiefly, those of equality, fairness, and respect for individual human rights and freedoms. With the Modernisation Committee considering reforms to “procedures, standards, and working practices” in the Commons, now is an opportune moment to ensure those values are more fully upheld by addressing the religious privilege embedded throughout our legislature.
As it stands, business in the House of Commons and the House of Lords begins with Christian prayers read by Anglican clerics. While these rituals may seem benign or traditional to some, they serve to alienate and exclude the growing number of parliamentarians who follow non-Christian religions and those who hold no religious belief.
Following last year’s general election, 259 MPs opted for secular affirmations instead of religious oaths, a remarkable increase from around 150 just a few years prior. With such a large cohort of the new Parliament choosing this secular route, one must ask: Why are we still clinging to traditions that no longer reflect the beliefs of our representatives?
Out of step not just with parliamentarians, this privileged status of Christianity, and particularly the Church of England, is also increasingly at odds with the demographic reality of our country. As shown by the most recent censuses, Christians are now a minority in England and Wales, while nonreligious individuals represent the majority in Scotland. Regular attendees at Church of England services make up less than 2% of the population, reflecting a profound shift in societal values. It’s time we moved away from practices that no longer resonate with the electorate or those chosen to represent them.
The continuation of Anglican prayers in Parliament signals to the nation that Christianity is of a higher status than other religions and beliefs. It is not just an outdated tradition; it is a stumbling block to a truly representative and inclusive parliamentary system.
As our society becomes increasingly diverse, it is imperative that our political institutions exemplify equality rather than privilege. Abolishing the holding of Anglican prayers before sittings is an important step toward that goal.
An overwhelming majority of legislative bodies around the world, including 24 European parliaments, manage perfectly well without any appeal for divine intervention. The three devolved parliaments in the UK have each taken different approaches, but none have a specific prayer read at start of daily business.
In the Scottish Parliament, a multifaith ‘Time for Reflection’ slot takes place once a week. The Northern Ireland Assembly begins its business with two minutes of silent reflection. The Welsh Senedd goes without any such ceremonies.
If parliamentarians felt it important to retain some kind of ritual in Westminster, a short period of silence would suffice to allow members to pause and reflect in a way that is meaningful to them.
But broader reforms are also required to eliminate religious privilege from our governing institutions. This includes removing the bishops’ bench from the House of Lords and disestablishing the Church of England as the state church.
Only by embracing such reforms and moving towards a truly inclusive secular state can we ensure that our democracy truly serves every citizen and treats them as equals, regardless of their religion or belief.
This piece first appeared in Parliament’s House magazine.