What Do the British Parties Say? Key Humanist Issues at the 2019 UK General Elections
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What do the British parties say? Key humanist issues at the 2019 UK general elections All party policies come from the respective party manifestos unless a specific reference is given. Humanists UK Conservatives Labour Liberal Democrats Brexit Party Green Party of England Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru question and Wales Manifesto link: https://humanists.uk/GE2 https://humanists.uk/GE2 https://humanists.uk/GE2 https://humanists.uk/GE2 https://humanists.uk/GE2 https://humanists.uk/GE2 https://humanists.uk/GE2 019con 019lab 019libdem 019brexit 019green 019snp 019plaid Will your party No plans to extend legal Yes. In 2015 the former Yes. ‘Introduce legal No stated policy. Yes. The Green Party told No. This matter is devolved No stated policy. give legal recognition. The leader Ed Miliband pledged recognition of humanist us in 2017, ‘Clearly the law so SNP MPs won’t vote on recognition to Government recently to give legal recognition to marriages.’ should allow those who it, but humanist marriage is humanist commissioned the Law humanist marriages if wish to have a humanist already legal in Scotland. marriages in Commission to undertake a Labour formed the next marriage ceremony the Since coming to power, the England and two-year review of Government.1 Support has same rights as couples SNP has strengthened the Wales? marriage law – but forbid it been reaffirmed by the who want a religious legal provisions around from making a decision on Labour front bench since.2 ceremony with the humanist marriages. whether or not to give celebrant of their choice. humanist marriages legal The Green Party is recognition. committed to ending the current discrimination as soon as possible.’ Will your party No stated policy. However No stated policy. However Yes. Party policy would see No stated policy. Yes. Party policy states No. This matter is devolved No stated policy. When support school in 2015 were supportive of in 2015 were supportive of the repeal of ‘the existing that ‘we will abolish the so SNP MPs won’t vote on contacted by us in 2015, assemblies in the requirement for the requirement for legal requirement for all requirement for a it, but the SNP Government said it ‘does not have a England being collective worship in collective worship in state-funded schools to compulsory daily act of has not supported calls to party position on this equally inclusive schools.3 schools.4 hold acts of collective worship. Schools which end the requirement to matter.’ of all pupils, worship’. Schools would be choose to continue to hold have six acts of religious regardless of required to ensure that any acts of worship will provide observance in schools per religion or belief, act of worship and any an alternative activity for year. rather than religious instruction is learners who choose not to being acts of optional … and that suitable take part. Pupils who do collective alternative activities are not participate in worship worship? provided.’5 will not suffer any form of discrimination.’6 Will your party No stated policy. In 2015, Yes. Labour Education Yes. ‘Ensures that religious No stated policy. Yes. Party policy states No. This matter is devolved No stated policy. support the opposed inclusion of Spokesperson in the House education in all that ‘Education should so SNP MPs won’t vote on inclusion of humanism when reviewing of Lords, Lord state-funded encourage critical it, but the SNP Government humanism in GCSE and A level RE Watson,stated the law is schools...Covers all the engagement with, and has not taken steps to Religious syllabuses, beyond a few quite clear that humanism major religious and non-dogmatic exposure to, require humanism to be Education mentions.7 Has not made should be included on an non-religious viewpoints.’ 9 diverse, sometimes taught to the same extent 1 Humanists UK, ‘Labour leader pledges to legalise humanist marriage’, 28 April 2015 https://humanism.org.uk/2015/04/28/labour-leader-pledges-to-legalise-humanist-marriage/ 2 E.g. Labour frontbench spokesperson Baroness Thornton speaking from the dispatch box in ‘Peers from all sides call for legal humanist marriages in England and Wales’, 22 November 2018: https://humanism.org.uk/2018/11/22/peers-from-all-sides-call-for-legal-humanist-marriages-in-england-and-wales/ and ‘Push for legal humanist marriages gets more support in Parliament’, 18 January 2019: https://humanism.org.uk/2019/01/18/push-for-legal-humanist-marriages-gets-more-support-in-parliament/ 3 Times Educational Supplement, ‘TES Pre-election debate 2015 - Part 2’, 16 March 2015 http://www.edcomsteachers.com/blog/2015/tes-pre-election-debate-part-2/ 4 Ibid. 5 F16: The Role of Faith in State-Funded Schools, Spring 2017, as quoted by Humanists UK in ‘Liberal Democrats vote to end religious selection amongst state schools’, 19 March 2017: https://humanism.org.uk/2017/03/19/liberal-democrats-vote-to-end-religious-selection-amongst-state-schools/ 6 Green Party, ‘Education Policy’, last updated Spring 2017: https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/ed.html. 7 Humanists UK, ‘Response to DfE statement on the religious studies GCSE judicial review’ November 26th, 2015 https://humanism.org.uk/2015/11/26/response-to-dfe-statement-on-the-religious-studies-gcse-judicial-review/ syllabuses in any further changes in this equal basis to the major However, when contacted competing, worldviews and as the principal religions in England? (On an direction since. religions—indeed, this was by us, said that ‘while we beliefs - whether based on Religious and Moral equal footing to the conclusion of a 2015 would be sympathetic, our culture, religion or Education (RME) in the major judicial review of the overall policy is that the spirituality.’10 Scotland. religions, in line matter. In debate on details of the curriculum with case law?) Commission on RE.8 should not be set by politicians but by independent experts. So in a Liberal Democrat government, MPs wouldn’t be voting on this at all.’ Will your party No. The Conservative No. Supportive of faith Yes. Supportive of faith No stated policy. Yes. Party policy states ‘No No. This matter is devolved No stated policy. support fully Government has allowed schools and religious schools but party policy publicly-funded school so SNP MPs won’t vote on inclusive school new fully selective selection per se, but has calls for ‘a new approach to shall be run by a religious it. However, the SNP admissions with voluntary aided faith also told us that it supports state funded faith schools organisation. Schools may Government is supportive no schools to open. retaining the 50% on which… ensures that teach about religions, of faith schools and has discrimination religious selection in new selection in admissions on comparing examples which not taken steps to limit on the basis of free schools/academies. the basis of religion or originated in each religious selection by religion? Labour Education belief to state funded continent, but are denominational schools in Spokesperson in the House schools is phased out over prohibited from delivering Scotland. of Lords, Lord Watson, has up to six years.’12 religious instruction in any opposed fully selective new form or encouraging faith schools.11 adherence to any particular religious belief.’13 Will your party Partially. The Government Yes. ‘Provide sufficient Yes. ‘Introduce a No stated policy. Yes. ‘End the opt-out of No. This matter is devolved Leader Adam Price has ensure that has introduced compulsory funding for schools to “curriculum for life”, in all LGBTIQA+ inclusive PHSE so SNP MPs won’t vote on spoken in favour of LGBT high-quality, RSE, in effect from deliver mandatory LGBT+ state-funded schools. This classes at school to ensure it. Relationships, Sexual inclusive RSE.15 accurate, and September 2020. However, inclusive relationships and will include… that every child learns Health and Parenthood LGBT inclusive no content of the sex education.’ age-appropriate about different types of Education (RSHP) is a core Relationships curriculum is compulsory, Relationships and Sex couples and families that part of the new Curriculum and Sex and schools are required to Education (RSE). Teaching make up UK society.’ for Excellence and the SNP Education (RSE) take into account the about sexual consent, ‘Properly fund training to Government has produced is introduced in ‘religious background of all LGBT+ relationships, and support the delivery of new guidance on it. all English pupils’. Faith schools are issues surrounding explicit comprehensive, However, denominational Schools? allowed to ‘reflect their images and content will be age-appropriate Personal schools can go against this faith in their teaching’. included in RSE.’ Health and Sexual guidance. Guidance says pupils Education (PHSE) lessons ‘should receive teaching on in schools covering all LGBT content’, but this is aspects of sex and not mandated.14 relationships, with a focus on consent.’ 9 Humanists UK, Liberal Democrats vote to end religious selection amongst state schools, March 19, 2017 https://humanism.org.uk/2017/03/19/liberal-democrats-vote-to-end-religious-selection-amongst-state-schools/ 8 House of Lords, Religious Education, 17 December 2018 https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2018-12-17/debates/A497B8C8-9BE9-4975-95E3-91F4748A98AC/ReligiousEducation?highlight=humanism#contribution-98A590D6-3A52-4D34-8C81-DC28DA91E6A3 10 Green Party, Education Policy, last updated Spring 2017 https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/ed.html 11 Humanists UK, Over 180 high-profile