Introduction from the whether for many in the Anglican Church the Archbishop of Canterbury is their “spiritual President leader”. The Muslim Council of Great Britain Annual Report 2002 - 03 Survey after survey shows that Britain’s represents only a small section of the Muslim attachment to organised religion continues to community – which in itself makes up less than dwindle at a very fast rate. Yet, religious 3% of the total population, yet this body is organisations grow ever more demanding and increasingly represented in official committees Denis Cobell politicised and, as a result, are increasingly and consultations. Also on the committee is a finding the ear of those in Whitehall and member of the Baha’i faith, which has only Downing Street. 6,000 members in the UK. The NSS has discovered that the Government – Even before the working party was established, with the specific support of Tony Blair - has these groups already had ready access to quietly convened a working party of “religious Whitehall and Downing Street. Their words, representatives” to decide how best religious however contentious or incomprehensible, are communities could influence policy-making also reported and broadcast by a strangely across a wide area of government. Such moves pious media – despite the fact that readers and are becoming the cause of alarm and dismay by viewers generally have little interest. The BBC a growing proportion of the population. is promising ever more religious programmes and every broadsheet in the country has a A steering group overlooking the working “religious affairs” correspondent and regular party included five government ministers and sections devoted to religious propaganda. senior politicians, and even the No. 10 appointments secretary. The working party The Government’s addiction to religion is comprised a whole raft of supposed “faith alarming not just to the NSS but to the many representatives”, but there were no represen- people in this country who find the idea of tatives of non-believers. (More details are given reactionary and unelected bishops, rabbis and in the body of the report.) But how imams making law and being accorded a representative are these “faith represen- highly privileged input into public policy tatives”? The reality is that they speak for only making to be abhorrent. a tiny proportion of the population. In many bishops in the already boast instances they do not even represent the views that they always receive replies from ministers, of the communities they purport to lead. For and promptly, to any questions written on example, many in the Liberal Jewish House of Lords notepaper. community have actively distanced themselves Religious authoritarianism is engaged in a from the Chief Rabbi. And doubt is spreading bitter struggle with secular liberalism, and 1 2 lead to adeterioration incommunity cohesion. also bealong raciallines,andwefearit could significant minority ethnicpresence thiswill education downreligious lines.Inareas witha schools willalsoleadto thesplinteringof impressionable youngminds.Suchnew and weabhortheinevitable indoctrinationof r committees. Theopeningofnumerous r into ourwelfare services andtheplacementof to theinsinuationofreligious organisations hard ifnotimpossibleto reverse. Thisapplies damage isbeingdonetooursocietythatwillbe r While thisgenerallyunwantedincursionof democratic developments. joined withothergroups toresist theseanti- increased mortalityfrom AIDS. TheNSShas “back street” abortions—andgreatly directly togrindingpoverty, over-population, minorities. Itspoliciesonsexualmatterslead oppression ofwomen,children andsexual Nations. Itusesthisstatustopromote its already anomalousstatusattheUnited European Unionandalsoseekstoupgradeits more influenceinthenewly-expanded base inthepastyear. Ithaspushedhard for aggressively ambitiousinspreading itspower The CatholicChurch, too,hasbecome do asmuchitcantoredress thatimbalance. NSS willcontinue,duringthecomingyear, to even more intheascendantpubliclife.The Downing Street –thereligionists are becoming Blair andhisChristianSocialistcolleaguesin seems tobeprevailing. Largely becauseofMr eligious schoolsposesaneven greater danger eligious representatives intoinstitutionsand eligion intoourpubliclifecontinues,much to whichweare allcommitted. grasp everyopportunity topromote theideals and itsmanysupporters.We also looktoyou But theNSSis,inend, onlyitsmembers media exposure, wecannotrest onourlaurels. areas. Although wehaveachieved considerable gain theresources tomakeprogress inallthese As itcontinuestogrow, wehope theNSSwill bring thatenergy tothecause. and determinedactivists–nowisthetimeto the countrywhohavecapacitytobeskilled us. Similarly, there are manymore allaround need manymore ofthem toactivelysupport secularists inparliamentandthemedia;we Education (SACREs).There are thousandsof Standing Advisory CommitteesonReligious committees, oncouncils,schoolboards and heard. We needmore secularistsonofficial you, oursupporters,tomakeyourownvoices That iswhyweneedmore commitmentfrom covert religious influenceinpubliclife. contribute tothebattleagainstprivilegedor views. We needallofourmanysupportersto Millions ofpeopleinBritainholdsecular political partiestoallofits30,000members. out applicationformstojoinoneofthemajor conservative Christianorganisation CAREsent their pushforpower. Earlierthisyear, the are becomingincreasingly slickandruthless in extremely richandpowerfulopponents,who the momentone-sided.We are upagainst The struggle inwhichtheNSSisengagedat Denis Cobell, President • • • • • • active ininclude: throughout Europe. Areas thatwehave been protect andpromote secularisminBritainand We This report coverstheyearto31October2003 Helps NSStoGrow Campaigning A Year ofVigorous grounds provision of schooltransportonreligious Seeking to end discriminationin the this country establishment ofmore religious schoolsin Continuing ouropposition tothe Constitution Christianity inthenewEuropean Resisting theinclusionofareference to issues ofrelevance tonon-believers Pressing theBBCtodevote more timeto discrimination atwork employment regulations thataimtooutlaw Challenging religious exemptionsinthenew party setupbythegovernment to religion through thefaithliaisonworking Protesting abouttheprivilegesbeingoffered

have hadanotherbusyyearcampaigningto faith communities and toensure thattheviews specifically to create “effective dialoguewith established a FaithCommunities Unit It lateremerged thattheHome Office had be followedupbytheMinister andourselves. action pointscamefrom themeetingandwill number ofpositive invited toparticipate. A humanist groups wouldbeconsulted or limited rangeofissues,butthatnosecularor “faith committee”wasbeingconsultedona who assured theExecutiveDirector thatthe the NSSwasinvitedtomeetFionaMactaggart, After ourprotest wascovered bythe Organisations, theChief Rabbi andtheBahái’s. Hindu Temples, NetworkofSikh Council ofGreat Britain,NationalCouncilof Alliance, Catholicorganisations, theMuslim from theChurch ofEngland,Evangelical The workinggroup includesrepresentatives valuable…” areas where thisinputwouldbemost across Whitehall;toidentifythespecificpolicy communities inpolicy-makinganddelivery achieving greater involvementofthefaith “to considerthemosteffective meansof told Parliamentthattheaimofgroup was chairing thegroup, FionaMactaggartMP, had faith communities”.TheHomeOffice minister examine “theGovernment’sinterfacewiththe up bytheHomeOffice, asnotedabove,to uncovered theexistenceofaworkinggroup set The NSSwasthecentre ofcontroversy whenit F aith LiaisonCommittee Observer

, Annual Report 2002 - 03 - 2002 Report Annual 3 of faith communities are considered in office with the Minister for Equality as part of to advise Christian employers how best to action, when the BBC would be using public emerging policy.” The Home Office signified the consultation process. After the consultation ensure that all jobs in their organisations can be money to fight its own case with the most formally however that it had taken some of our period ended, however, massive religious reserved for believers. The NSS has protested expensive lawyers in the country. Had we not Annual Report 2002 - 03 concerns on board when it said: “The Faith exemptions were inserted, it is claimed on the most strongly about this, and it was taken up in been successful, their costs would have been Communities Unit will be giving some Prime Minister’s direct instructions, following a major story in The Times. awarded against us. threats from the Church of England’s consideration over the coming months to what We have also had significant input into the In an effort to find out whether the BBC’s Archbishops’ Council. The wording of the the Government can do to safeguard the preparation of non-statutory guidelines to the claims that the non-believing perspective was exemption was almost verbatim as dictated by interests of those with no faith in areas where regulations aimed at both employers and adequately represented on the BBC were well the Church. A cabal of evangelical the faith communities have an input.” employees. These are being drawn up by the founded, members monitored a week’s output organisations had also lobbied the Government arbitration service ACAS in co-operation with on Radio Four (19 - 26 July 2003) and found in similar terms. the Department of Trade and Industry. Our that religious programmes accounted for 3 Despite warnings from an independent interventions have resulted in worthwhile hours 25 minutes, plus two religious speakers parliamentary scrutiny committee that the improvements. on the Today programme apart from Thought for exemptions for religious groups were too wide the Day, and four directly religious items on the and were likely to be ultra vires, the regulations NSS and the BBC news, as well as one on Woman’s Hour. In were approved by Parliament. Through our comparison, the amount of time allotted to Honorary Associate, Dr. MP, we After a series of meetings with the head of secular humanist issues amounted to 30 managed to raise a raft of objections in the religion and ethics at the BBC over its policy of seconds, when Matthew Parris defined himself excluding non-believers from participating in as an atheist on Any Questions (while House of Commons, but to no avail. Lord the slot, the NSS made an answering a question on religion!). Lester of Herne Hill QC put up a similarly official complaint to the Board of Governors. valiant fight in the Lords, but with the same Our campaign generated considerable positive When this failed to produce a positive result. publicity, and the majority of public take our outcome, the Society resorted to legal action side. It has also made the BBC more conscious The NSS is petitioning the European alleging discrimination and that the BBC had of the non-religious voice. The NSS intends to Commission to take out infraction proceedings failed to deal adequately with our complaint. continue pressing the BBC to provide more and against the UK for faulty transposition of the In response to this, the BBC commissioned a better programmes of interest to secular Employment Directive into UK law. This Cartoon kindly report from the very department responsible humanists. drawn for the catalogue of complaints has been drawn up by for the programme, which concluded, NSS by Martin Employment Regulations council member Anna Behan and the Executive Rowson predictably, that “Thought for the Day has Director, with help from member Sue England, The NSS has been at the forefront of the always been a faith based programme” and the The European Constitution who specialises in European law. It will be ban was “reasonable” and no discrimination resistance to wide-ranging religious exemp- Ministers from around Europe are working to ational Secular Society reviewed by leading human rights lawyers tions in the new employment regulations was involved in the policy. agree a new constitution for an expanded before being finalised. combating discrimination on grounds of The NSS later withdrew from the legal case on European Union. The Vatican and some N religion and sexuality that are due to come into Since the regulations were approved, the the grounds that taking it further would have Orthodox Churches have been pressing to have effect in December. The Executive Director Evangelical Alliance and other Christian been disproportionately expensive. We did not a specific mention of Europe’s “Judeo- 4 discussed them in detail last year at the cabinet groups have launched employment handbooks want to risk the Society’s funds on such an Christian heritage” included in the preamble. 5 The Society has been told by the Minister for Religion in Education own schools, as we are starting to see in schools come to light. We have a pack available Europe that the UK Government does not Leicester, likely to be the first example of to assist those fighting such proposals locally. intend to support such an insertion. The The Government is determined to press on education splintered down religious and hence Annual Report 2002 - 03 All but one of Catholic schools are Voluntary Society’s position has been reported in the with an expansion of church schools despite racial lines. Aided so all places are reserved first of all for European press, generally as the sole the number of pupils in education declining for Catholics. It is only when they cannot find specifically non-religious view. demographic reasons, and the seventy years of DfES Privileges Religious Schools continuous decline in religious belief and Government school funding rules encourage enough Catholic children to fill them that they Of even greater concern, however, is Article 51, are opened to other Christians or, as a last which “respects and does not prejudice the observance showing no sign of abating. Now sponsorship by organisations or individuals, resort, to non-believers – even though this may status under national law of churches and only 7% of the population is in church on an and these are in practice very often religious be their nearest school. religious associations or communities” and average Sunday. organisations. Recently reissued guidance by undertakes to “maintain an open, transparent The Church of England is taking full advantage the Department for Education and Skills, on Millionaire evangelical Christian and car and regular dialogue” with them. We are of the Government’s enthusiasm for the local decision making on statutory proposals salesman, Sir Peter Vardy, is to open five more convinced that this Article will be invoked to creation of more “faith schools”. It is doing so for changes in school organisation, advises “Academies”, the vast majority of the cost of frustrate attempts at secular reform such as at a rapid rate by converting community adjudicators (except in extreme situations) to which will be from public funds. Following the disestablishment. schools into Voluntary Aided establishments, ratify Church vetoes against any reduction in same formula as the controversial Emmanuel The NSS has joined with its French equivalent, and opening new schools. Although the C of E the proportion of denominational (church Academy in Gateshead, these schools, with their heavy-handed religious “ethos”, will also Libre Pensée, to issue a joint declaration calling gives the impression that it is contributing to school) places. It is inexcusable that promote in science lessons. for Europe to defend its secular heritage and to the capital costs of these schools, the truth adjudicators are not required to take into oppose religious references in the constitution. emerged in the Church Times, when it was account what is best for all pupils in the local The NSS has taken part in several radio and TV We have organised a joint event, to take place revealed that the Church is paying little or education authority, rather than privileging programmes discussing this issue, and been in Paris on 6 December 2003, to launch this nothing towards them. Much of their paltry “faith” schools to the detriment of community quoted in newspapers. declaration. 10% contribution (whittled down from the 50% schools in yet a further way. The Executive required under the 1944 Education Act) is Scotland Director spoke to senior officials at the being met by other sponsors. In return for this The NSS also sparked debate about the Department for Education and Skills pittance they are in some instances able to continued existence of Catholic schools in restrict admissions almost entirely to expressing concern about the proposal to halve Scotland. We featured in several Scottish Christians, even though the running costs are to one month the minimum period allowed for newspapers, after we pointed out in the Sunday entirely met from public funds. It was revealed the public to lodge objections to school Times that a large-scale survey had shown that this year that the Canon Slade CofE School in reorganisations. A compromise solution was a majority of Scots opposed denominational Bolton required parents to attend church at reached. Our objections came in the wake of an schools. We called for a referendum on the least 48 times a year before they could be order from the CofE to its dioceses not to co- continued existence of these schools in a ational Secular Society considered for a place. It is widely accepted operate with secular groups who were seeking country afflicted by increasing sectarianism. that parents pretend to believe in order to gain to discover where and when new religious Honorary Associate Professor Richard N entry to such schools. schools were planned, nor is it possible to find Dawkins weighed in on our side. The growth in CofE schools is an out information from the DfES. It is only by The leading RC archbishop in Scotland was 6 encouragement to other faiths to establish their local vigilance that plans for new religious incandescent and declared a “war on 7 ”. This was reported on the front introduction of pre-stunning, so that animals Born Again Christian on whole to decide how it wants to proceed.” Our page of the Herald with a sizeable quote from are unconscious when their throats are cut and role in providing extensive evidence to the the NSS President Denis Cobell. The Catholic they are bled to death in the manner prescribed OFCOM committee was praised warmly by one of its Annual Report 2002 - 03 Church has now appointed a “school czar” to by Jewish and Islamic law. The government The NSS objected to the appointment of athlete leading members. Although we would make a case for the continuance of denom- was sympathetic to this argument, but was Jonathan Edwards, and born-again Christian, obviously have preferred the Committee to inational schools. under extreme pressure from orthodox to the Content Board of the new TV regulator recommend the abolition of the blasphemy Ofcom. We protested that Mr Edwards’ much- laws, we believe that our evidence persuaded The NSS also submitted evidence to a religious sources. Yet other major meat proclaimed evangelical Christianity would not the Committee not to propose other changes consultation on religious observance in schools producing countries such as Australia ban allow him to adjudicate fairly on complaints which we would have found deleterious. in Scotland, which resulted in a long interview cattle slaughter without prior stunning, so we assume that the UK’s failure to make this about “taste and decency”. Our complaint was on Radio Scotland with the Executive Director. The Crown Prosecution Service has, however, change to improve animal welfare is yet a taken up by the media and caused much made clear that it intends to prosecute more School Transport further example of the religious having the debate. We were quoted in Radio Times, BBC cases that have a “religiously aggravated” We also took up the issue of religious trump card with the Blair Government. Any Online and the Guardian as well as regional motive. If an offence can be shown to be papers where Mr Edwards lives. discrimination in the provision of school further consultation on the proposals will bring “religiously aggravated” the prison sentence transport. We have a legal team prepared to another response from the NSS. can be increased to up to seven years. take legal action against the wide-spread policy Religious Offences Committee The NSS has raised the alarm about this that permits local authorities to subsidise development, seeing the potential for it to transport for children attending denom- Psychics on TV The NSS gave evidence last year to the House become a new and much more powerful form of Lords Religious Offences Select Committee, inational schools, while denying it to non- The NSS responded to a consultation from the of blasphemy law. There is an increasing and and its report was released this summer. Christian children attending the same school. Independent Television Commission on the worrying tendency by government agencies to Although it was highly critical of blasphemy This resulted in a major feature in the Guardian seek to treat religious “offences” similarly to regulation of programmes featuring purported law and repeated many of our objections, the Education supplement and also made waves in race offences. We are worried that religiously “psychics”, “clairvoyants” and “mediums”. Committee was not able to reach a consensus the Times Educational Supplement and several aggravated offences such as insulting The NSS pointed out that such programmes on its abolition. The committee had intended to regional papers. behaviour will gradually expand from could exploit the vulnerable by giving the recommend the introduction of a new offence covering insults of the person to insults of the of “incitement to religious hatred”. The NSS impression that “paranormal” events were religion. Such concerns have been raised by the had argued that introducing such a new genuinely occurring. We proposed that such Executive Director at a meeting with a minister Animal Welfare offence would be impossible without seriously programmes should be preceded by a warning at the Home Office. The NSS has been active in campaigning to compromising freedom of expression. After by the network to the effect that there was no outlaw the ritual slaughter of animals without considering the various options, the committee guarantee that trickery or manipulation was prior stunning. It made a submission to the was unable to find a safe way to bring this law Other Campaigning Issues

ational Secular Society not involved in the demonstrations of so-called Department of the Environment and Rural into effect. • The Society’s President Denis Cobell once Affairs pointing to evidence of the greater paranormal powers. Our story was taken up by The committee chairman, Viscount Colville of more called for the rationalisation and fixing N cruelty of halal and schechita (Jewish) Psychic News, and vice president Terry Culross, concluded: “After extensive public of the date of Easter, a call that found its way slaughter methods. The NSS joined other Sanderson had the “spooky” experience of consultation, we have analysed the merits of all onto the Teletext news service. 8 animal welfare groups in calling for the seeing his picture on the front page. the options, but feel it is up to parliament as a • The NSS submitted a response to the 9 Government’s consultation on the University on “Structured pluralism: a Media Profile Increases preacher Franklin Graham. The charity collects establishment of a single equality body that practical legal framework for faith in the gifts in this country for disadvantaged children is proposed to take over the duties of the European Union”. This also provided an The NSS’s profile in the media continues to abroad. What the donors do not appreciate is Annual Report 2002 - 03 Equal Opportunities Commission and the opportunity for him to open up a dialogue grow. As well as stories in all the serious that bible tracts are inserted in the gifts or made Commission for Racial Equality and also to with Professor Weninger, who is one of the newspapers, the NSS has contributed to dozens available when they are distributed. As a result include religion and belief and sexual four Policy Advisers to the President of the of radio programmes and many TV of our protests, some organisations have now orientation. The Society also submitted a EU. He advises on religious matters and is a programmes over the past year. One of the ceased to support this charity. response to the Government’s consultation Roman Catholic. highlights included Vice President Terry The Executive Director has briefed dozens of on a legally recognised partnership register Sanderson being featured on the One o’ Clock • The NSS participated in several high profile journalists with the facts they need for their for same-sex couples. News on BBC1 in an item about superstition, debates this year and council members gave stories, and have provided sound bites galore. • The Society submitted a response to the when he was filmed walking under ladders talks at local groups around the country. The He has featured in the Observer, the Guardian, consultation on social cohesion launched by and breaking mirrors (not to mention stepping President is particularly active in this field, the Times as well as the Times Educational the Office of the Deputy Prime minister on on cracks in the pavement). Another was having spoken, for example, at the Oxford Supplement as well as many smaller, but social cohesion. We urged the greater ’s appearance on BBC1’s Union, Cambridge University Humanist nevertheless influential journals. We’ve also involvement of the non-religious and Heaven and Earth Show, when she memorably Group, the Inns of Court Christian Society been quoted in many regional newspapers. pointed out the dangers of addressing these described the NSS as “the trade union for (supported by Jennifer Jeynes). She and the issues through conservative religious atheists”. We have also appeared in the EU Observer, Bishop of Woolwich (who also supports Psychic News, the Church Times, The Tablet, the organisations who may have their own The Executive Director has kept up his disestablishment) were the movers of a National Catholic Register (many thanks to agendas and who may truly not represent relentless round of media appearances, debate at the Oxford Union on this subject. Muriel Fraser for her help on this one) as well those of their faith, especially women and dashing from the World Service to Radio Ian Andrews debated at the University of as on German radio and several US stations. young people. Scotland to the Today programme and BBC1. Durham. Our fame is growing and, as a result, so is our • The Society is continuing to fight the VAT Terry Sanderson also took part in many membership. rebates on repairs to listed buildings which • The Executive Director was the principal broadcasts, some of which were on Radio 2, are places of worship while they are not speaker at the 2003 Annual Conference of the Radio 5 Live, BBC World Service and Radio given in respect of other listed buildings. Humanist Society of Scotland. Terry Scotland. Our ISDN broadcasting equipment Conference These rebates were instigated by the Sanderson was the keynote speaker at has assisted the Executive Director and Vice Chancellor after pressure from the Church of Sheffield Humanist Society’s 10th Anni- President in their frequent interviews with The NSS organised a successful one-day England. We have made representations to versary Conference on Religious Funda- radio stations around the country. The conference in June entitled “Secularism in the the European Commission, which later mentalism. Council members Ian Andrews President has also taken part in broadcasts, as Future”. Honorary Associate Joan Smith refused to permit reductions to the VAT rate and Malcolm Trahearn attended the have other members of Council, and also some delivered a stimulating keynote speech, and ational Secular Society in this area. National SACRE meeting in Birmingham. members. Most notably, Andy Armitage there were contributions from Sue Lord (whose brainchild the conference was), Ian Andrews, • Following a protest by the Executive This lead to representations to Education represented the Society on the Sunday N Director at the absence of a secular speaker, Secretary Charles Clarke about a more Programme calling to account an international Keith Porteous Wood, Denis Cobell and Terry he was invited to join the panel of speakers positive representation for non-religious charity called Samaritan’s Purse, which is Sanderson. Many thanks also to Jennifer Jeynes for helping with the organisation of the event. 10 speaking at a seminar at Newcastle standpoints in any new national syllabus. closely associated with fundamentalist 11 Annual Report 2002 - 13 03 eligious organisations. and application, Secularism aims at Secularism and application, well-being happiness and the promoting of mankind. and State and the separation of Church privileges granted to abolition of all r all peoples as a means of the fraternity of peace, to further advancing universal develop and to common cultural interests and dignity of mankind. the freedom 4. in origin is social that morality Affirming 5. demands the complete Secularism 6. education, to promote to spread It seeks The Society’sThe Principles Objects: and Large print and audio versions of this report are available on request. Large print and audio versions only one of which we have any of which we only one should be effort and human knowledge improvement. its towards wholly directed and assails it as the upon ignorance of progress. historic enemy the basis of equal possible only on and publication; that of speech freedom and ideas criticism of institutions the free is essential to a civilised state. The NSS is certainly vigorous in its opposition to the forces of superstition, obscurantism, its opposition to the forces in The NSS is certainly vigorous another way of looking at its support for liberal causes. and illiberalism; but that is merely when of expression; it is campaigning for freedom When it campaigns against censorship, it is campaigning for educational impartiality; and when it campaigns against faith schools, privilege, it is the social and fiscal survivals of religious it campaigns against any of pluralist society. campaigning for equality in a 1. this life is the that Secularism affirms 2. that supernaturalism is based It asserts 3. is that progress affirms Secularism , is being Let us know 31 October 2003 Newsline Wc1R 4RL 25 Red Lion Square sline w Ne newsletter, Our weekly email Merchandise is proving Our latest range of merchandise portraits of popular with members. It features is a mug for ”. There of our six “Heroes shown on the notelets and each and all six are on the products can view the You tea-towels. credit them using our secure website, and order facility. card www.secularism.org.uk/merchant.htm especially to Julian Blake, Tim Boyce, John Boyce, Tim Blake, to Julian especially Muriel Hearty, Peter England, Sue Claydon, Barry Stevenson, Dr Paul Ramsay, Ellen Fraser, Fiona Weir. Thorpe, and If readership. enjoyed by an ever-increasing like not on the mailing list and would you are it, please send a blank email with to receive on the subject line to “Subscribe to Newsline” [email protected] you has changed. If address also if your email a you can still receive don’t have a computer, A5 A4 or send a supply of printed version – just envelopes to Newsline, stamped addressed London WC1R 4RL NSS, 25 Red Lion Square, printed and we’ll post it to you each week. (The version is only available to members.) , and Guardian Scotsman,on Sunday Independent . He was voted Political Cartoonist of . He was voted Political Cartoonist , w Honorary Associates w Honorary olunteers ear” in the Channel 4 Political Awards 4 Political ear” in the Channel ribune T for in 2000 and is cartoonist laureate Year the London. (See his cartoon on page 4). V who have Special thanks to the volunteers helped so much with the Society’s increasing Grateful thanks workload over the past year. Mirror Ne our have joined Associates Honorary Four to pleased are We panel this year. distinguished welcome: Labour MPAllen, Graham for Nottingham the of was named “Backbencher North. He Y Ceremony. the campaigning MEPMichael Cashman, for our invitation with Midlands accepted the West is also a member of the “honour”. Michael National Executive and is Labour Party’s that the EU to ensure working hard is fairly applied. Employment Directive Paul Holmes is MP He is the for Chesterfield. bench spokesperson on Lib Dem front and sits on the Commons Education disability, helpful and Skills Committee. He has been very schools with technical information on our campaign. cartoonist. Martin Rowson, the famous political in the His work appears regularly

Paul Holmes N ational Secular Society Graham Allen Secular ational Martin Rowson 12 Annual Report 2002 - 15 03 Lord Raglan Lord Rayner Claire Martin Rowson Joan Ruddock MP MP Brian Sedgemore Joan Smith David Starkey Dr. of Camden Turner Baroness Vidal Gore website http://www.secularism.org.uk/ • Officers aslima Nasrin Prof. Ted Honderich Ted Prof. Sir Alice Mahon MP McIntosh of Haringey Lord Jonathan Meades Melly George Sir Jonathan Miller T Stan Newens Pinter Sir Harold elephone/Fax 020 7404 3126 elephone/Fax T Keith Porteous Wood, FCCA Keith Porteous Wood, Honorary Associates Honorary Other Members of Council ational Secular Society Secular ational Surendra Lal, Bill McIlroy, Malcolm Trahearn. Lal, Bill McIlroy, Surendra (31 October 2003): Anna Behan 26 March 2003. Anna Behan 26 March (31 October 2003): N ice-Presidents Sanderson Jim Herrick & Terry President & ChairmanPresident V Hon. Treasurer Denis Cobell Acting Hon Treasurer 2003) March (from Andrews Ian 2003) (till February Alan Lord Registered Office: 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL London WC1R Red Lion Square, 25 Office: Registered The following served throughout the year to 31 March 2003: March the year to 31 The following served throughout (Company limited by guarantee, CRO England No. 1418145) England CRO guarantee, by limited (Company Executive Director & Company Secretary: Company & Director Executive Ian Andrews, Norman Bacrac, Daniel Bye, Barry Duke, Jennifer Jeynes, Andrews, Ian email [email protected] email [email protected] One member of Council has been co-opted up to the date this report was drawn up co-opted up to the date this report One member of Council has been Graham Allen MP Atkins Peter Prof. Iain Banks Bond Edward MEP Michael Cashman Francis Crick Dr. Dawkins Richard Prof. Foot Rt. Hon. Michael ADr. C Grayling Evan Harris MP Dr. Paul Holmes MP , journal of the British Humanist bi-monthly journal of the el 020 7079 3580, Fax 020 7079 3588. el 020 7079 3580, Fax 020 7079 3588. 151. Email [email protected] support to IHEU) £30 p.a. from IHEU, 1 Gower £30 p.a. from support to IHEU) 7631 3170, 020 London WC1E 6HD. Tel Street, Email [email protected] Fax 020 7631 3171. www.iheu.org New Humanist Rationalist Annual Association. Press 1 RPA, subscription £15 (UK), £18 (elsewhere) 020 7436 London WC1E 6HD. Tel Gower Street, 1 www.newhumanist.org.uk Humanist News from Available Association, published quarterly. London WC1E 6HD. BHA, 1 Gower Street, T Email: info@.org.uk www.humanism.org.uk journal of the monthly secular humanist journal. Many of the items in this report items in of the Many journal. humanist secular monthly quarterly journal Other Journals of secularist/humanist appeal: published by South Place Ethical published by South Freethinker

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