The NSS in Parliament
The National Secular Society lobbies tirelessly in both the UK and European Parliament, led by the indefatigable Keith Porteous Wood. Below are some examples of our impact in Europe, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
- Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill (Blasphemy) 06 May 2008 (PDF, 235K)
Commons debate on the amendment to abolish the Blasphemy laws. May 6, 2008. This is the final Commons debate before the Bill receives its Royal Assent.
- Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill (Blasphemy) 05 March 2008 (PDF, 261K)
Lords debate on the clause to abolish Blasphemy laws on 5 March 2008
- Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, 09 Jan 2008
Evan Harris MP
The repeal of Britain's ancient law of blasphemous libel moved closer when a cross-party amendment was tabled for debate in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. It immediately attracted the parliamentary support of senior Labour back-benchers, religious and secular MPs. the amendment was tabled by Evan Harris MP, an Honorary Associate of the NSS. (See column 442)
Evan Harris MP
- Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics, 05 June 2007
Keith Porteous Wood
NSS in exchange with the EU President Hans Gert Pöttering at EU Parliament’s All Party Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics. - The Position in British Society of Those Who Profess No Religion, 19 April 2007.
Lord Harrison
Debate called for by Lord Harrison in the House of Lords on 19 April 2007. - Racial & Religious Hatred Bill (A)
Lord Lester, October, 2005
- Racial and Religious Hatred Bill (B)
Bishop of Southwell, October, 2005
- Racial and Religious Hatred Bill (C)
Lady Cox & Lady Turner
- Report of Home Affairs Committee on Incitement to Religous Hatred
Report of Home Affairs Committee Sixth Report on NSS submission on proposed laws on Incitement to Religious Hatred (See qu 219) 22 March 2005
- NSS submission/stance Q127
Home Affairs Committee’s Sixth Report dated 22 March 2005 – NSS submission/stance referred to in questions: Qu 127
- NSS submission/stance Q129
Home Affairs Committee’s Sixth Report dated 22 March 2005 – NSS submission/stance referred to in questions: Qu 129
- House of Commons Hansard Debates for 7 Feb 2005 (pt 18)
Brian Sedgemore (Hackney, South and Shoreditch) (Lab).
- Lords Hansard text for 3 Feb 2005 (250203-46)
Lord Wedderburn of Charlton and Baroness Turner of Camden in debate in the House of Lords.
- Submission to Dept of Constitutional Affairs on voting methods
Submission to Dept of Constitutional Affairs on voting methods and religion in party politics 18 Jan 2005
- Terrorism and Community Relations: Written Evidence (14 December 2004)
Terrorism and Community Relations: Written Evidence
- Evidence to Home Affairs Committee on Incitement to Religious Hatred
Evidence to Home Affairs Committee (October 2004) on proposed laws on Incitement to Religious Hatred, Discrimination on Grounds of Religion and also on the existing laws concerning blasphemy and religiously aggravated sentences.
- Joint Committee on the Draft Charities Bill
Joint Committee on the Draft Charities Bill - Written Evidence 15 September 2004. NSS Submission
- Evidence to Joint Committee on the Draft Charities Bill
Several other references to the Society’s publications also taken as evidence to the Joint Committee on the Draft Charities Bill 19 August 2004
Submission to Education and Skills Committee (on discrimination in school transport): Third Report 28 June 2004.
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Guardian, 3 July 2008
The Times, 3 July 2008
Times, 3 July 2008
Sir Ian McKellen drew a final line under the blasphemy laws on Saturday, when he read the last work to be prosecuted for blasphemy at a celebratory event in central London.
by Roy Brown, former president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union.