Wales Policy Table
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
What do the parties say? Key humanist issues at the 2021 Wales Senedd elections All party policies come from the respective party manifestos unless a specific reference is given. Wales Humanists question Labour Conservatives Plaid Cymru Liberal Democrats Abolish the Assembly Green Party of England and Wales Manifesto link https://humanists.uk/WE2021 https://humanists.uk/WE2021 https://humanists.uk/WE2021 https://humanists.uk/WE2021 Not yet published. https://humanists.uk/WE2021 lab con plaid libdem green Would you support school No stated policy. The No stated policy in Wales. In No stated policy but the Welsh Liberal Democrats has No stated policy. Yes – The party will ‘abolish assemblies in Wales being outgoing Government England, the UK Government manifesto states that they no stated policy unlike the the requirement for a equally inclusive of all pupils, refused to address the matter has recently said that if it is will ‘bring the UNCRC fully English Liberal Democrats compulsory daily act of regardless of religion or belief, as part of the Curriculum and made aware of English into Welsh Law’. who support its removal. The worship. Schools which rather than being acts of Assessment act, but also schools breaching a only Liberal Democrat MS in choose to continue to hold collective worship? committed to publish a plan requirement to carry out a the last Senedd term refused acts of worship will provide outlining how it will meet a daily act of worship, they will to address collective worship an alternative activity for set of UN Committee be ‘investigated’ and as Education Minister, while learners who choose not to recommendations on ‘reminded of their duty on admitting that if personally take part. Pupils who do not children’s rights that include this matter’. she was ‘starting from a blank participate in worship will not the abolition of compulsory piece of paper,’ she would be suffer any form of Christian worship in schools. unlikely to ‘enshrine the law discrimination.’2 in the way it currently is’. 1 Do you support the teaching Yes – this has been No stated policy. Welsh Yes – Plaid Cymru supported Yes – this has been a key No stated policy but would Yes – committed to ‘develop of high-quality, introduced as a mandatory Conservatives held a free the requirement for policy introduced as a see responsibility return to and implement a Wales-wide comprehensive, and element in the Curriculum vote for Senedd Members on mandatory RSE during the mandatory element in the Westminster where policy on strategy to mandatory relationships and and Assessment act by the this issue during the passage passage of the Curriculum Curriculum and Assessment RSE permits a parental right tackle gender-based sexuality education in all current Labour Government of the Curriculum and and Assessment act. act by the current Liberal to withdraw their child from violence… This will include schools? and the RSE code is due for Assessment act; most voted Democrat MS in her role as the subject and allows for a providing education across consultation after the in favour of mandatory RSE Education Minister and the denominational approach in Wales on violence election. There is a lessons across all schools. RSE code is due for faith schools. against women and girls to commitment to consultation after the increase awareness…’ comprehensive, election. There is a developmentally appropriate commitment to RSE in all schools. comprehensive, developmentally appropriate RSE in all schools. Would you support fully No stated policy and in the No stated policy. The No stated policy. No stated Welsh Liberal No stated policy on education Yes – party policy states ‘No inclusive school admissions last Senedd term there has Conservative Government in Democrats policy. As but would see responsibility publicly-funded school shall with no discrimination on the been no open discussion on England has allowed new fully Education Minister, the return to Westminster where be run by a religious basis of religion? the status of faith schools selective voluntary aided serving Liberal Democrat MS Government policy supports organisation. Schools may and admission policies. faith schools to open. did nothing to address increasing the number of fully teach about religions, However, the new Curriculum admissions policies, but she discriminatory faith schools. comparing examples which and Assessment act will place did place a requirement on originated in each continent, a requirement on faith faith schools to deliver but are prohibited from schools to deliver non-denominational RVE at a delivering religious non-denominational RVE at a parent’s request. In England instruction in any form or parent’s request the party is supportive of encouraging adherence to faith schools but policy calls 1 Humanists UK, ‘Disappointment as Welsh Government refuses to act on collective worship during current Assembly term’, 8 January 2020. https://humanism.org.uk/2020/01/08/disappointment-as-welsh-governmen t-refuses-to-act-on-collective-worship-during-current-assembly-term/ 2 The Green Party, Education Policy https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/ed.html for ‘a new approach to state any particular religious belief.’ funded faith schools which… 4 ensures that selection in admissions on the basis of religion or belief to state funded schools is phased out over up to six years.’3 Would you support inclusive No stated policy and no No stated policy. No stated policy. No stated policy. No stated policy but would No stated policy. healthcare settings where action taken in the current see responsibility return to non-religious pastoral Senedd term with all Westminster where support is given the same decisions on chaplaincy and non-religious pastoral care status and funding as pastoral care left to the seven has wider support. religious chaplaincy? health boards. No national direction given on the need for equality in pastoral care provision. Would you address the Has not done this while in No stated policy]. No stated policy. No stated policy. No stated policy. No stated policy’. privilege shown to religious power. The Equality Minister groups in the Faith committed to reviewing the Communities Forum by giving matter, but this has been membership to humanists, or postponed due to the equal and fair access to the pandemic. First Minister and all ministerial meetings? Would you support the legal Yes – Labour supports legal No plans to extend legal Yes – Plaid Cymru would Yes – the federal party has No stated policy. Yes – the Green Party told us recognition of humanist recognition of humanist recognition. The UK support changes to marriage repeatedly committed to legal in 2017, ‘Clearly the law marriages? marriages in Westminster, Government recently law including devolving recognition of humanist should allow those who wish and the Welsh Government commissioned the Law responsibility to Wales and marriages, including in its to have a humanist marriage also voiced support in a Commission to undertake a permitting legal recognition 2019 UK General Election ceremony the same rights as recent consultation on the two-year review of marriage of humanist marriages.6 manifesto, which said couples who want a religious matter.5 law – but forbid it from ‘Introduce legal recognition of ceremony with the celebrant making a decision on whether humanist marriages.’ of their choice. The Green or not to give humanist Party is committed to ending marriages legal recognition. the current discrimination as soon as possible.’ Would you oppose any moves Yes – Labour is opposing No – the UK Government Yes – Plaid Cymru confirmed Yes – Liberal Democrats want No stated policy. Yes – the Green Party’s 2019 in Westminster to weaken our such moves in Westminster. plans to curtail the Human in the manifesto that they to protect the Human Rights manifesto committed to human rights settlement? in the next Senedd term Rights Act and judicial review. support closer alignment with Act. They also seek to ‘Retain the Human Rights Act Welsh Labour ‘will act to The 2019 general election the EU, and will oppose any enshrine the UN Convention and reaffirm the UK’s tackle the systemic and manifesto stated, ‘We will moves by a UK Government to on the Rights of the Child in commitment to the European structural inequalities that update the Human Rights Act withdraw from the European UK law and take appropriate Convention on Human stand in the way of a free, fair and administrative law to Convention on Human Rights. action to comply with Rights.’ and tolerant Wales – and fight ensure that there is a proper They will ensure that ‘the decisions of UK courts and for the vital human rights balance between the rights of Welsh state enshrines the the European Court of Human that help underpin that work. individuals, our vital national basic rights of its citizens in a Rights.8 3 Liberal Democrats, The Role of Faith in State-Funded Schools, March 2017. http://www.libdems.org.uk/conference-spring-17-f16-faith-schools 4 Green Party Policy, https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/ed.html 5 Welsh Government Statement issued 3 March 2021 in response to Wales Humanists. 6 Confirmed by the leader of Plaid Cymru during party conference October 2019 in response to Wales Humanists. 8 Liberal Democrats, ‘Our human rights are under attack’ 10 December 2020. https://www.libdems.org.uk/human-rights-under-attack Labour remains committed to security and effective written charter of citizens’ freedom of conscience and government.’ rights and responsibilities, freedom of belief… and have a based on a national proud history fighting for citizenship of equals which equality and human rights’.7 embraces inclusion and diversity’. Would you support legalising MPs in Westminster are MPs in Westminster are No stated policy. Yes – party policy states that No stated policy. Yes – the Green Party ‘believe assisted dying for people who allowed a free vote on the allowed a free vote on the ‘medical assistance to die that people have a right to an are of sound mind but are matter, so presumably MSs matter, so presumably MSs should be available to assisted death within an terminally ill or incurably are too.