We were in Parliament today to discuss our latest report, 'Britons and Secularism' (co-created with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social). It reveals that while Brits are generally tolerant of religion, they are uneasy with it being afforded unjust political privilege👇 www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/brit...

Thousands of children at risk in ‘dirty and dangerous’ illegal schools. Frustrating to still be seeing these headlines despite years of campaigning on the issue. Some progress. Not enough. www.itv.com/news/2026-06...

Reform UK is importing America’s abortion culture war into Britain "The lesson we need to learn from America is that complacency can be dangerous", says @werahobhouse.org.uk leftfootforward.org/2026/06/wera...

Huge credit to @connieegan.bsky.social for the courage and leadership she has shown in advancing this amendment. Today's vote is a significant victory for freedom of expression and freedom of conscience, and a major step towards consigning blasphemy laws to history across the UK. 👍

The UK is one step closer to being free of blasphemy laws. We welcome the Northern Ireland Assembly’s historic vote to abolish the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel. Thanks to @connieegan.bsky.social for bringing this amendment. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/06...

Breaking: MLAs in Northern Ireland have just voted to abolish blasphemy and blasphemous libel offences, removing the UK's last remaining blasphemy law. Momentous. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/06...

The Church of England spent £35 million on school evangelism last year. State-funded schools should educate children, not serve as church recruitment grounds. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/06...

I’ve written to the Home Secretary on behalf of @natsecsoc.bsky.social urging a review of the religious exemption in UK legislation governing the carrying of knives and bladed articles. The law should be clear, consistent, and applied equally to all. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/06...

Christian charity: ‘The problem of rape right now in the world of our children is the fact that boys no longer rape girls. More boys now rape boys.’ Your taxes are subsidising this repugnant homophobia. We're quoted 👇 metro.co.uk/2026/05/21/c...

All very odd, deeply unpleasant – and subsidised by taxpayers because the advancement of religion is deemed to provide a public benefit worthy of charitable status. It's time that our outdated charity law was reviewed.

This excellent piece in @timeshighered.bsky.social asks why the Office for Students appears unwilling to apply the same standards on academic freedom and free speech to Bible colleges. An example of religious privilege and regulatory double standards. www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/why-...

The National Secular Society stands in solidarity with Jewish communities facing intimidation, hatred and violence. Political or religious grievances can never justify hostility towards Jewish people. The resurgence of antisemitism is a warning to Britain. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

A society that cannot protect its Jewish minority cannot credibly describe itself as open or liberal. The resurgence of antisemitism is a warning to Britain. My latest op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

Parents, local politicians and @natsecsoc.bsky.social oppose a proposed Church of England school takeover in Guildford. Falling pupil rolls are putting secular education at risk – schools’ secular ethos must be protected. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/05...

Third Sector: Backbench MP proposes ending automatic charitable status for religious groups. When antisemitism, misogyny and extremism are being spread under the banner of charity, the "advancement of religion" needs proper scrutiny. We're quoted. www.thirdsector.co.uk/backbench-mp...

Saddened to hear of the death of Richard Harries, the former Bishop of Oxford who supported many secularist principles to promote equality, fairness and inclusive education. Also a passionate advocate for protecting people from caste-based discrimination. He will be missed.

Around two-thirds of voters back a separation between Christianity and politics – a view held by a clear majority of supporters of all the main political parties.

Bridget Phillipson says universities should be places where “truth and reason triumph, not dogma”. So why are Bible colleges receiving £80m+ in public funding despite requiring staff & students to sign doctrinal commitments? Op-ed: @stephenmevans.bsky.social👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

Newly registered Christian charity referred to regulator by @natsecsoc.bsky.social after its chair preached that wives must not refuse sex and that gay people need “treatment”. Awful messages, unworthy of charitable status. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...

Bridget Phillipson says higher education should be grounded in questioning, debate, and the freedom to challenge ideas rather than fixed dogma or doctrine. That's why Bible colleges are unsuitable for OfS registration and the public funding it unlocks. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

Telling women they have no authority over their bodies and saying gay people should be “institutionalised” serve no public benefit. Yet by classifying the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose, we end up legitimising this nonsense. @natsecsoc.bsky.social quoted. metro.co.uk/2026/04/16/w...

Why politicians pandering to Christian nationalism is a dangerous game. 🗣️My latest op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have recently been rehashing a familiar line about Britain's 'Christian identity'. When mainstream politicians start echoing religious identity politics, they don't contain it; they legitimise it. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

A Labour government should absolutely remove the automatic right of bishops to sit in the Lords. Like hereditary peerages, these seats are a relic of institutional privilege – unfit for a modern democracy. labourlist.org/2026/04/it-i...

You can't build a national identity or cohesive society based on one religion in a country of many. We need to build a state that belongs equally to all of us. Secularism is key to that. My latest piece for @natsecsoc.bsky.social www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

🗣️ In my latest op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social, I dig into the new More In Common polling to see what it means for the state’s relationship with religion. In a diverse, and sometimes divided, society, secularism isn’t a niche idea. It’s a practical necessity. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...

Comprehensive new polling from @Moreincommon_ on public attitudes to religion in public life. "No religion should have these privileges". www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/03...

On the day the new Archbishop of Canterbury is installed, new research from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social and @natsecsoc.bsky.social shows the public opposes the political and civic privileges of the Church of England. Full story in today’s Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03...

Speaking the latest Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Harriet Harman predicts the assisted dying bill being talked out in the Lords could turbocharge demands for reform – including stripping Anglican bishops of their automatic seats. It’s a religious privilege unfit for a modern democracy.

Peers last night backed removing women from criminal abortion law, so they would no longer face charges or prison for ending a pregnancy. Anglican clerics turned out in force to oppose this (eleven). This level of religious intervention in modern lawmaking is not normal - or appropriate.

If you think male circumcision is trivial and harmless, consider watching this video. Evidence of physical and psychological harm is growing. Ignoring this safeguarding concern and human rights violation isn’t a viable option. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/03...

Cue outrage from the reactionaries, but the Greens have long supported separating church and state – including disestablishing the Church of England. It’s a sensible position, as I argued here: www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2023...

More than £80m in taxpayer-backed student loans has gone to bible colleges that restrict free speech and academic freedom. After five years of raising concerns with the regulator, @natsecsoc.bsky.social is now preparing legal action against the OfS.👇 www.theguardian.com/education/20...

The Office for Students faces a judicial review from @natsecsoc.bsky.social over public funding for Bible colleges that restrict academic freedom and freedom of speech. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

The Supreme Court has made it clear: RE must be objective, critical & pluralistic – anything less is indoctrination. A major ruling that shames NI’s failure to protect young people. Big implications across the UK. Time to end outdated laws on compulsory worship. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...

BREAKING: Upper chamber of Manx parliament votes 5-3 in favour of ending bishop's ex officio voting right! A victory for fairness, equality and democracy www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...

Great to see the Isle of Man move a step closer to removing the bishop’s vote. Secular governance should be a feature of every modern democracy. Privileges for Anglican clerics compromise that principle. Votes and seats as of right for bishops should end. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...

We face a choice. We can either allow religion to be weaponised for political ends, or we can defend the secular principles that underpin democracy: equality before the law, freedom of conscience, and the separation of religion and state. Read on 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

The widespread outrage over Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being barred from the Villa game is a positive sign – our tolerance for antisemitism and appeasement of Islamist intimidation is finally wearing thin. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A victory for free speech: the Hamit Coskun ruling corrects a deeply flawed first instance judgment and reaffirms the vital importance of free expression. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

A mosque attended by the Manchester synagogue attacker was previously reported to the Charity Commission by @natsecsoc.bsky.social over concerns of fuelling antisemitism and division. I’m quoted in today’s Times: 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/b613...

Judgement due today in the case of a man who burned a Quran in an act of political protest. The right to express oneself – even clumsily or offensively – is a cornerstone of a free, democratic society. That's why the NSS is backing Hamit Coskun's appeal. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

Encouraging to hear the Government is considering dropping plans to adopt a new definition of Islamophobia. Existing laws that protect people from discrimination, harassment and violence already apply equally to Muslims. www.thesun.co.uk/news/3683668...

Secretary of State 'not surprised' faith-based admissions put "certain racial groups" at a disadvantage. A court case has demonstrated that allowing religious selection facilitates discrimination on the grounds of race. This is the price of religious privilege. www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/09...

Is Britain on the brink of a spiritual comeback? www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

Last weekend, Christian nationalism took to the streets of London. This ideology is a menace to democracy – and secularism is our best defence. My op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social ⬇️ www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

How best to tackle anti-Muslim hate? My latest op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social argues that defining Islamophobia may actually exacerbate the very bigotry against Muslims it aims to prevent. www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

I agree that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in – and support the Government's work in championing Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. www.gov.uk/government/s...

This week, I urged the Moroccan Ambassador to push for the release feminist activist Ibtissame 'Betty' Lachgar, who faces prosecution for 'insulting Islam.' Morocco's laws against criticising Islam violate human rights. secularism.org.uk/news/2025/08...

'Criminal case concerning Quran burning threatens the back-door ’reinstatement’ of a blasphemy law'. Law Society Gazette covers @natsecsoc.bsky.social advice from Human rights barrister Akua Reindorf KC warning of serious flaws in CPS prosecution. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/quran-b...