We are sorry to have to report the death of David Tribe, who served as president of the National Secular Society from 1963 to 1971. You can read our obituary celebrating David's life and contributions to the secular movement below.
This week we've helped expose yet another Church takeover of local secular schools. This is part of an ambitious push by the Church to seize control over as many schools as possible. We're doing everything we can to prevent this and help local people stop the Church from subverting their local school. Find out what you can do to support our work.
Meanwhile, the election is just days away. Read on to find out where the parties stand on secular issues.
News, Blogs & Opinion
NSS mourns the loss of former president David TribeNews | Thu, 1st Jun 2017 David Tribe, a President of the National Secular Society from 1963 to 1971, has died in Australia at the age of 86. David Tribe was born in Sydney, Australia in 1931 and brought up in Brisbane. He studied medicine at the University of Queensland and in his spare time demonstrated the wide range of talents at his command as an actor, singer and debater. Despite academic success, he did not enjoy medical work and travelled to the UK soon after leaving university. After arriving in the UK he further demonstrated his wide-ranging talents working as a sketch artist, advertising and public relations officer, journalist and teacher of various literary and humanities subjects. From an early stage he was involved in the freethought and humanist movement. He was chair of the Humanist Group Action from 1961 to 1964. He also served as a member of the executive of the National Council for Civil Liberties. Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society today, said: "Since its inception over 150 years ago, the National Secular Society has been fortunate in attracting the services of some extraordinarily intelligent, determined and talented individuals, some of whom have served as President of the Society. David Tribe was one such. "From his election in 1963 he worked hard to transform and modernise the Society so that it was better placed to play an important role in the radical and liberal social reforms of the 1960s. He recognised the necessity of using the media to get the word out to a wider society and became adept at writing press releases and giving interviews. "Then, as now, a central concern for the NSS was the question of religion in schools and this was an issue in which David was to take a particular interest, writing dozens of articles and letters to the correspondence columns of the educational and religious press." He also edited The Freethinker for a brief period in 1966. When David stood down as president of the NSS, his close ally, Bill McIlroy, who was Secretary of the NSS and also edited The Freethinker at that time, commented: "Although he has never been popular with those in the movement who are ready to compromise with opponents before the first shot has been fired, David Tribe enjoys the respect and support of people who value clear thinking, plain speaking and a respect for principles." David was important in another way too. He wrote a number of books and pamphlets, but his biography of Charles Bradlaugh (President Charles Bradlaugh MP, 1971) and history of the NSS (100 Years of Freethought, 1967) were and are of great importance in explaining the radical intellectual tradition the Society represents. To this day the NSS's opponents would prefer this was ignored - and sometimes our own supporters need to be reminded of it. His research and understanding of secularism and its significance was outstanding. He also wrote a number of other books including The Rise of the Mediocracy, 1976, Questions of Censorship, 1973, and Nucleoethics: Ethics in Modern Society, 1972, of which he was particularly proud. Soon after standing down as President of the NSS, David returned to Australia to care for his terminally ill father and, although continuing to work in the secularist movement, did not hold any offices. The University of Sydney's "Tribe Awards" in fiction, poetry, philosophy, sculpture, and symphony were established in 2005 after Tribe put $300,000 into a foundation for the purpose. Executive director Keith Porteous Wood kept regularly in touch with him by telephone until shortly before his death: "David was always interested in what the Society was doing and pleased to hear of our successes. Last year he contributed a moving congratulatory message – albeit by a video – to our 150th anniversary celebrations which was played at a dinner at which three other presidents spoke. Barbara Smoker, who served as president of the National Secular Society for twenty-five years, said David Tribe and committee member Bill McIlroy were a "formidable and hard-working team" and praised their contribution to the secularist cause. Denis Cobell, who served as NSS president from 1997 to 2006, said: "My earliest memories of David Tribe go back the late 1950s. I recall him as a powerful orator on the NSS platform at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in the days when outdoor meetings were a common feature of NSS activity. I remember he also used regularly to attend the Sunday morning meetings at Conway Hall and would harangue speakers with his own views on the topic of the day. "David Tribe was an excellent speaker and debater at many NSS gatherings I witnessed." David Harold Tribe: 1931 – 2017. | |
Church to gain influence over nine secular schools in NorthumberlandNews | Wed, 31st May 2017 Concerns have been raised over plans for nine community schools in Northumberland to join with one Church of England faith school to form the new Tynedale Community Learning Trust – a mixed multi academy trust (MAT) that will have a majority of church appointed members. Concerns have been raised over the Church's role in appointing members and directors of the Trust. Under the proposals, the Church will appoint three out of five members of the trust (one of which will be in consultation with the schools), who will then appoint a majority of the 11 directors of the MAT, including one 'Church Director'. With the exception of the 'Church Director', the members will be required to appoint members on the basis of their skills, rather than applying a religious test. An ex-parent governor at one of the schools involved, who resigned over the plans told the NSS: "This is nothing short of a church takeover of nine non-church schools, and any parents wishing to guard against church influence in their children's education should be rightly worried. In addition, the RSC has confirmed that the option chosen in this case represents a deviation from current government policy for mixed MATs. The safeguards for non-church schools with this arrangement are woefully inadequate." According to letters to parents, the funding agreement will stipulate that the community school ethos of the schools should be protected by the trustees and local governing bodies of the community schools. Alastair Lichten, NSS campaigns officer, said "Concerns about academisation and through it religious takeovers of community schools, form a significant part of our casework. Despite the reassuring noises of the consultation documents, parents and governors are right to raise concerns. If trustees are to be appointed on the basis of their skills, rather than their faith – as all trustees of state schools should be – then what possible justification is there for the Church appointing three out of the five people who will decide on these appointments? "We see no reason or justification for a 'Church director' – even if only one of eleven, the same proportion of foundation governors at the faith school involved - to be appointed to make decisions on the governance of nine community schools. "Assurances over protecting the community ethos of schools are welcome, but we have seen them before and it is clear that there are a range of soft options for the Church to promote – as is their stated intention – their ethos in community schools which they have a role in running. There is no clear inspection standard or oversight in protecting a community school ethos. Ultimately the extent to which these nine schools truly remain secular is up to the efforts of the parents and staff." Describing the plans as "huge" and "mammoth", the Hexham Courant reported that "talks between heads and governors are at a very advanced stage". The schools are running a consultation process which will close at 5pm on Wednesday 7th July 2017. The basic requirements for a public body carrying out a consultation are:
If you have concerns about religious organisations taking over your school, please contact enquiries@secularism.org.uk See also: Fear over new schools trust - Hexham Courant | Church of England sidesteps government rules over multi-academy trust control - Schools Week | |
New poll finds huge opposition to Government’s plans for more discriminatory faith schoolsNews | Tue, 30th May 2017 Government plans to allow new faith schools to discriminate on religious grounds by selecting all of their pupils on the basis of faith have attracted mass public opposition, a poll has found. A Populus survey commissioned by the Accord Coalition found that just 20% of the public say that "New state funded faith schools should be allowed to select up to 100% of their pupils on the basis of faith." Just 21% of Anglicans support the new policy, but 43% of Muslims and 55% of Jews support it. Sample sizes for minority faiths are small, however. The policy was introduced with particular regard to Catholic Schools, but just one-in-three Catholics think taxpayer-funded schools should be able to discriminate in all of their admissions. Unsurprisingly, jut 15% of 'nones' support the change. Respondents were asked whether they supported the current cap which limits religious admissions for oversubscribed schools to 50%, or whether they preferred the removal of this cap to allow 100% religious discrimination. The survey follows a November 2016 survey, also commissioned by the Accord Coalition, which found 72% of respondents - including clear majorities of every religion and belief group - opposed state funded faith schools being able to select or discriminate against prospective pupils on religious grounds in their admissions policies. At the end of 2016 the National Secular Society responded to the Government's consultation on the proposed changes, saying replacement measures to "promote inclusivity" will do little or nothing once the current cap is gone. NSS campaigns director Stephen Evans said: "The existing admissions cap of 50% is a half-measure at best, but it is the only meaningful protection to stop total discrimination in faith schools. These are schools that every taxpayer funds and they should not be allowed to discriminate on religious grounds at all." Find out more: Help us to oppose plans for a new wave of 100% religiously selective schools | |
BBC allows Today programme to be used to promote Church’s evangelism campaignNews | Thu, 1st Jun 2017 The National Secular Society has criticised the BBC for allowing the first Thought for the Day slot of June to be used by the Church of England as a platform to promote its latest evangelism initiative. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby spoke on Radio 4 about the Church's 'Thy Kingdom Come' campaign, which invites "more people to come to know Jesus Christ". NSS campaigns director Stephen Evans said, "It's bad enough that the BBC dedicates part of its flagship news programme to offer an unchallenged platform for religion, but allowing Thought for the Day to be used as free advertising slot for the Church of England really takes the biscuit. It further calls into question the appropriateness of this anachronistic and discriminatory slot." In February, the BBC slapped down the new Today programme editor after she suggested Thought for the Day should be opened up to humanists. Shortly after her appointment, the NSS wrote to Sarah Sands, urging her to use her influence as editor to rethink the slot. Despite sitting within the Today programme, Thought for the Day is produced by the BBC's religious affairs department – and the BBC has repeatedly insulated Thought for the Day from any reform. The slot's editorial policy explicitly discriminates against the non-religious as they are the only group barred from contributing. In its letter to Ms Sands, the NSS suggested that Thought for the Day should be opened up to non-religious contributors, turning the daily segment into an "ethical current affairs reflection slot." Otherwise, the discriminatory slot should be renamed 'Religious thought for the day' and moved away from Radio 4's flagship news programme and into a more suitable timeslot reflecting its niche status, the NSS said. | |
Parliamentary candidates offer support for faith schools, non-stun animal slaughter and circumcisionNews | Wed, 31st May 2017 The National Secular Society has criticised prospective MPs for offering their support to non-therapeutic male circumcision, religious slaughter of animals without stunning, and faith schools. Many former MPs seeking re-election have signed up to a document, called 'The Ten Commitments', produced by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. The Board of Deputies is asking MPs to "Defend the right to a Jewish way of life" by allowing the slaughter of animals without pre-stunning and defending the medically unnecessary circumcision of young boys. The document also asks MPs to affirm "the importance of faith schools within the education system." The Society said, "Religious freedom is not a totally unlimited and unqualified right. Religious freedom should not override the rights of young children to be free from unnecessary and potentially harmful surgery, and it should not override animal welfare standards that have overwhelming support in society. We urge candidates to consider these issues and the widespread public opposition to allowing religious animal slaughter without pre-stunning." Conservative PPCs Bob Blackman and Jonathan Reynolds, as well as Labour candidates Kate Osamor, David Lammy, Ann Coffey, Mike Katz, Karen Buck, Mike Gapes, Jonathan Reynolds and Blair McDougall have all signed the Ten Commitments pledge so far. | |
What do the main parties have to say on secular issues?Opinion | Thu, 18th May 2017 The Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have all released their manifestos for the General Election. Read our analysis of what they say on issues from equality to human rights, Islamist extremism and education. We'll continue to update this article as the other parties publish their manifestos. Conservative Party The Conservative Party manifesto states: "We abhor social division, injustice, unfairness and inequality." One of the major injustices we deal with is parents facing religious discrimination when looking for a local taxpayer-funded school for their child. It isn't clear if the commitment to a "review of school admissions policy" will consider that. The manifesto rightly states that in "too many parts of our country, we have communities that are divided, often along racial or religious lines" and it pledges a "new integration strategy". But worryingly the manifesto appears to roll back integration and inclusivity measures for faith schools, labelling these rules – and not the religiously (state and private) segregated schools that necessitate them – "unfair and ineffective". The manifesto pledges to ensure schools with mon-ethnic/mono-cultural intakes "teach their students about pluralistic, British values and help them to get to know people with different ways of life." Seemingly contradicting this aim, the manifesto pledges to open new 100% religiously selective faith schools. The new 'integration' measures designed to replace the current cap on religiously selective admissions are not effective. Requiring "new faith schools to prove that parents of other faiths and none would be prepared to send their children to that school" is a mockery, when those schools will be able to exclude those children. The Conservatives say they "will push forward with our plan for tackling hate crime" committed on the basis of protected characteristics, and offer a welcome commitment to "strengthen the enforcement of equalities law – so that private landlords and businesses who deny people a service" on the basis of protected characteristics are "properly investigated and prosecuted". They undertake to remain signatories of the European Convention on Human Rights for the "duration of the next parliament" and say they will not repeal or replace the Human Rights Act during the Brexit process. The Conservative manifesto has several passages dealing with countering extremism "especially Islamist extremism", pledging to "to learn from how civil society and the state took on racism in the twentieth century". They propose a new 'Commission for Countering Extremism' as well as creating new criminal and aggravated offenses. While the NSS shares the commitment to challenging extremism, we have concerns that 'extremism disruption orders', proposed several years ago, will chill free expression and can capture a whole range of views which are not dangerous or comparable to Islamist extremism. The Party also promised to "expand our global efforts to combat extremism, terror, and the perpetration of violence against people because of their faith, gender or sexuality". Labour Party Labour commit to "enforce effective measures to prevent all forms of abuse, including female genital mutilation." There has never been a successful prosecution for FGM in the UK. Labour commits to "review the Prevent programme with a view to assessing both its effectiveness and its potential to alienate minority communities." While many will have honestly-held concerns around Prevent, honest debate has been consistently undermined by myths and misinformation campaigns, often backed by those who would rather there was no counter-extremism programme whatsoever. The Party says it will "address the government's failure to take any effective new measures against a growing problem of extreme or violent radicalisation." As mentioned, the proposed extremism disruption orders never surfaced from the Government, but the NSS is concerned that proposals from Labour or the Conservatives might result in measures that chill free speech with subjective definitions of 'extremism'. On this point, the Party promises that new counter extremism powers will "not weaken our individual rights or civil liberties." The Party plans to "build a society and world free from all forms of … Islamophobia." The NSS supports efforts to challenge anti-Muslim bigotry and all forms of sectarian hatred. However we (and many others) have criticised the unclear and much misused term 'Islamophobia'. On equality law and hate crimes Labour says it "will bring the law on LGBT hate crimes into line with hate crimes based on race and faith, by making them aggravated offences" as well as supporting the Istanbul Convention and reporting responsibilities. It says: "We need to celebrate the profound and enriching transformation brought by the diversity of people in this country". Labour will "appoint dedicated global ambassadors for women's rights, LGBT rights and religious freedom to fight discrimination and promote equality globally." We are disappointed that the proposed ambassador for 'religious freedom' is not explicitly an ambassador for freedom of religion and belief. The NSS would welcome such a role, provided they dealt with the closely related issues of religious freedom and freedom from religion. Around the world Christians, atheists and other religious and political minorities face persecution from theocratic regimes. The plan to "extend the Freedom of Information Act to private companies that run public services" may help bring scrutiny where religious organisations are running public services. Liberal Democrat Party The LibDems offers a welcome promise to "outlaw caste discrimination." The late Lord Avebury, a Liberal Democrat peer and honorary associate of the NSS, was very active in our ongoing campaign to have caste discrimination explicitly outlawed in equality law. They have also pledged to "Strengthen legal rights and obligations for couples by introducing mixed-sex civil partnerships and extending rights to cohabiting couples." On education the Party will give local authorities "proper democratic control over admissions and new schools", something that has been weakened by academisation. There have been examples of local authorities being powerless to stop religious organisations running new or converted community schools. It will also "repeal the rule that all new state-funded schools must be free schools or academies." The NSS has repeatedly raised concerns about the ways in which academisation can be used to drive the unwanted growth in faith school numbers. However the Society questions the LibDem pledge to "Guarantee the freedom of people to wear religious or cultural dress". In almost all circumstances such a freedom rightly exists already, but there are many examples where this right is reasonably limited. The LibDem spring conference backed the phasing out of religious discrimination in school admissions, an end to compulsory worship, and reform of religion and belief education – commitments missing from the manifesto. UKIP Much of UKIP's manifesto is taken up with measures to combat Islamic fundamentalism. The Party vows not to be intimidated by accusations of 'Islamophobia' and says that "mass uncontrolled immigration has opened the door to a host of people from cultures with little or no respect for women." It laments the failure to successfully prosecute an FGM case and the manifesto vows to implement "a screening programme for girls identified to be at risk of FGM from birth to age sixteen, consisting of annual non-invasive physical check-ups". Additional checks will be made on "at risk" girls when they return from countries where FGM is customary and calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of six years. The Party will ban face coverings in public places and says, "There is no human right to conceal your identity." UKIP promises to end Islamist extremism in schools and says "we must wake up to the reality that extremism is taking hold in our country." Schools found to be exposing children to Islamism should be put into special measures by Ofsted, the Party says, and schools should dismiss teachers, staff and governors who support radical mosques or imams. UKIP also calls for and it would require Ofsted to conduct snap investigations of schools where "girls are being offered unequal access to music, dance, PE or drama lessons, or are otherwise discriminated against" or where anti-Semitic and hard-line views are expressed. On radicalisation in prisons it says no prisoner should be given "perks" because of their faith, and it calls for prisons to refuse imams or preachers who promote "views contrary to British values". Green Party The Greens say they will reject "the xenophobic Prevent strategy" and replace it will "community-led" and "collaborative approaches" to countering extremism. They would bring academies and free schools under local authority control, and would abolish Ofsted. They will implement a "strategy to tackle gender based violence" including FGM, but give no details in the manifesto. The party says it will defend the Human Rights Act, and UK membership in the European Convention on Human Rights. They also promise to tackle "discrimination on the basis of faith" and pledge "real equality for LGBTIQA+ people [and] equal rights for mixed gender couples to have a Civil Partnership." National Secular Society: a manifesto for change The NSS is a non-partisan organisation. Ahead of the snap General Election, we're writing to all major parties, calling on them to embrace a series of secular reforms, drawn from our recently published secular manifesto, that make society, our education system, and the law fairer for all. You can view all of our recommendations in Rethinking religion and belief in public life: a manifesto for change and add your support. |
Quote of the Week
"In Britain neither canon law nor Sharia should ever be the basis for a manifesto idea".
Alice Thomson, Times.
Essays of the Week
The Tories are embracing education apartheid
Alice Thomson, Times.
France has woken up to the danger of Islamism. Has Britain?
Gavin Mortimer, Spectator.
Upcoming Events
Religion and Scots Law: A Conference for Humanist Society Scotland on the Direction of Travel
Fri, 2nd Jun 2017
Towards a secular education system: NSS talk at North London Humanists
Thu, 8th Jun 2017
Rethinking religion's public role: NSS talk at Leicester Secular Society
Sun, 11th Jun 2017
How secular is Britain? NSS talk at Plymouth Humanists
Tue, 27th Jun 2017
