New reforms to wedding law are a vital opportunity to create an inclusive system that respects freedom of religion and belief in all its forms. That's why Sophie Easton argues that those reforms must include independent celebrants👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

Lord Carey fears the bishops risk “losing their legitimacy in public life” if they block the AD bill. Whatever your views on the bill itself, the idea of religious clerics who sit ex officio in parliament having 'legitimacy' to lose is plainly absurd. premierchristian.news/en/news/arti...

In the wake of the death of a six-month-old baby following ritual circumcision, we've written to the health secretary Wes Streeting to call for Government action to protect boys. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/01...

You can hear our human rights lead Alejandro Sanchez on the 'Truuman' podcast discussing our campaign to protect boys from medically unnecessary circumcision👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvSX...

Many religious #charities do fantastic work. But many others fail to provide a public benefit and some cause harm. Tell your MP it's time to end religious privilege in #charity law. 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/mp-letter-ch...

The Supreme Court ruling that NI’s collective worship laws breach human rights presents a clear opportunity for reform across the UK. Laws mandating worship in schools are outdated, unpopular, and divisive – we’ve urged the Government to abolish them. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/01...

Op-ed: Our president Keith Porteous Wood writes that despite its formal separation from the church, the French state is still subservient to it when it comes to child abuse. Read in full👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

A coroner investigating the death of a six-month-old boy in London following ritual circumcision has called for action over the lack of safety and regulatory measures surrounding the practice. It's time for Parliament & the medical establishment to act. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The government is right to say that animals should be spared avoidable pain, suffering and distress when they are killed. That's why reforms to animal welfare laws must include the banning of non-stun slaughter. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

This is morally wrong and an absolute failing.

The best response to anti-Muslim hostility is consistent enforcement of existing laws and a strong commitment to universal rights, not new definitions that entrench grievance politics and undermine social cohesion. Read about our concerns👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

Read the report here: www.secularism.org.uk/charities/mi...

Any successful strategy to combat VAWG must address the promotion of misogyny by religious charities - which includes reforming charity law to prevent such organisations from essentially bypassing the public benefit test. Our report, raised on Times Radio:

We're disappointed to learn that MSPs have failed to back an amendment to introduce an independent right of withdrawal from religious observance in Scottish schools. No child should be subject to legally mandated worship in state funded schools. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

In case you missed it, the recording of yesterday's webinar, featuring Bob Forder discussing the life and enduring relevance of National Secular Society founder Charles Bradlaugh, is now available. @natsecsoc.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=krW6...

The report into safeguarding allegations against Sarah Mullally is to be overseen by her closest-ranking colleague, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. This summarily encapsulates the Church’s institutional safeguarding problem. www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...

Very pleased this report I led on has been raised by @samcarling.bsky.social at PMQs. I hope Keir Starmer incorporates its recommendations into his VAWG strategy.

BREAKING: Our Misogyny report has been raised with the Prime Minister as part of calls for him to support a review of charity law. If the Government is serious about tackling misogyny, it must address its promotion in the charitable sector. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

“We cannot have one archbishop who had to resign because of safeguarding scandals replaced by another who may well have to do the same within a very short space of time.” Calls continue for the halting of Sarah Mullally's appointment👇 www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12...

We’re concerned by the reported wording of the Government’s new definition of anti-Muslim hostility, which leaves the door open to misuse that stifles criticism of Islam. Whatever wording is used, this proposed definition remains unnecessary and misguided. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

#Wedding law in England and Wales is badly out of date. Ask your MP to support reforming England & Wales' outdated, Anglican-based wedding laws 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/mp-letter-we... #Marriage #Weddings #EqualMarriage

🗞️Analysis we contributed to alongside Comprehensive Future & TRAK has revealed that faith schools are significantly overrepresented among the nation's least inclusive schools. We're now calling on the gvt to review the role of faith schools in social division👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

A report is now being completed into the complaint of Sarah Mullally's mishandling of abuse allegations. That report will then be assessed by archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell - who repeatedly appointed senior clergy with records of abuse. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

It's #ExMuslimMonth! Ex-Muslims often occupy a precarious position, potentially facing ostracisation from their families and communities as well as censorship of discussion of Islam. We part-funded the research of Dr Ben Jones into their experiences👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2024...

We recently lobbied States Members in Jersey to reject an amendment which would have introduced direct state funding for its parish churches. That proposal has now rightly been withdrawn following our intervention - a decision we've roundly welcomed. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

The recent effort to develop an 'Islamophobia' definition has proved highly contentious, so it’s essential the process continues to facilitate necessary discussion and debate. We’ve urged the Government to publicly consult before adopting any new definition. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

Just over a year since her predecessor was forced to resign in disgrace over mishandling of the abuse scandal, Sarah Mullally is already mired in allegations of misconduct herself. This speaks volumes to the church's institutional culture. #DisestablishmentNow www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...

We attended the Moroccan embassy yesterday to urge the Moroccan government to release imprisoned activist Betty Lachgar and repeal the illiberal blasphemy laws under which she was jailed. #HumanRightsDay #FreeBetty

"Smyth’s horrific crimes at Christian camps were covered up by the Church of England and exposed by Channel 4 News... In the meantime, Smyth had not been reported to the police but simply sent to Zimbabwe, where his abuse continued for many years." www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-r...

It's #HumanRightsDay2025! We campaign to ensure our fundamental #HumanRights - from freedom of expression, to freedom of religion or belief - do not lose out to religious demands. Join our campaign 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/equality/ #InternationalHumanRightsDay #HumanRightsDay

"I hold him personally responsible for not doing more to stop the active abuse that was happening in 2013. He knew Smyth very well: he knew the Christian camps, despite his efforts to deny [that], and the people involved extremely well.” www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/12/0...

Where religion is privileged, #LGBT people are among the first to suffer. We challenge state support of homophobic religions. Join our campaign 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/lgbt/ #GayRights

🗞️Sarah Mullaly has been accused of contravening the Clergy Discipline Measure code of practice during her time as bishop of London, by sending a confidential email about abuse allegations directly to the priest concerned. Read the full story👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

#RichardCarlile was born #OnThisDay in 1790. Carlile published secularist works during an era of effective censorship. He was also the first to write and publish a birth control tract in English. He spent 6 years in prison for #blasphemy. Read more 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/richard-carl...

Sensitivities around criticising religion often lead to women's inequality being ignored and waved aside. Protecting free expression around religious ideology and practice is crucial for women's rights. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12...

Abattoirs that do not stun animals before slaughter are almost three times more likely to be given negative inspections for reasons including substandard hygiene practices and poor animal welfare, says new analysis by the Telegraph 👇 www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12...

The CofE’s rep in Parliament says schools “cannot and do not exclude pupils” based on religion. But most kinds of faith schools can prioritise families who belong to the 'right' faith. However the Church tries to dress it up, discrimination is exclusion. www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=20...

Despite calls for urgent safeguards to be implemented for ritual circumcisions, the government has responded to a series of PQs from Lib Dem peer Paul Scriven by refusing to say whether unanaesthetised non-therapeutic circumcisions are even legal. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

Baroness Burt recently cited in parliament our recommendation that the regulator should revoke the charitable status of any organisation found to be promoting misogyny, and that the charitable purpose 'the advancement of religion' should be removed👇 www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/consult...

#OnThisDay in 1888 #CharlesBradlaugh’s Affirmation Bill was approved - allowing MPs to affirm rather than take a religious oath. This concluded an 8 year struggle which began with the Speaker’s refusal to allow Bradlaugh to take the oath. Read more 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/bradlaughs-s...

We've responded to an NI Department of Education survey to say it should abolish its collective worship laws and reform religious education and relationships and sex education. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

It's #GivingTuesday! We are wholly funded by our members and supporters. If you share our belief in a freer, fairer secular democracy, making a donation (or becoming a member!) is the best way to support our advocacy work👇 www.secularism.org.uk/donate

If educational institutions are to remain in step with an increasingly religiously diverse and irreligious modern Britain, they must take a more inclusive approach than de facto Anglicanism. A case for a more secular Oxford in Cherwell👇 cherwell.org/2025/11/29/w...

Services funded by public money should be open to all, without alienating anyone. Ask your MP to protect secular #PublicServices that treat everyone equally. 👇https://www.secularism.org.uk/mp-letter-public-services#write-to-mp-199604 #SeparateReligionAndState

It's ridiculous that parliament still has christian prayers in this day and age! Less than half of the population are Christian, and presumably an even lower proportion of younger people. #UKpolitics #UKreligion

Just last week, the Supreme Court ruled RE & collective worship in NI schools was indoctrinatory and breached children's rights. Yet Stormont's Education Minister Paul Givan has instructed schools to continue providing RE based on the "holy scriptures". www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Update: Motion to end parliamentary prayers now has 18 signatures. Thank you very much Marie Goldman for becoming the latest MP to put your name to this EDM! edm.parliament.uk/early-day-mo...

A Scottish bill that would make it harder for parents to withdraw children from religious observance has passed its first stage. Reform is badly needed, but this bill's asymmetrical approach is fundamentally misguided. We've urged a change of tack👇 www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...

Our Mission and Misogyny report was debated in Parliament today, after being raised by Baroness Burt. The minister said some of its findings are "absolutely shocking". Read more: www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11... Read the report: www.secularism.org.uk/women/missio...

Thank you Baroness Burt for raising our Mission & Misogyny report in Parliament today. We're glad the minister agrees some of the examples of misogyny in religious charities we found are "absolutely shocking". Read the report: www.secularism.org.uk/women/missio...