Crispin Blunt MP was pleased to be elected as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) yesterday, 13th September. The APPHG is a cross-party group which brings together like-minded MPs and peers to discuss issues relating to humanism and advance humanist causes in Parliament.

High on the group’s agenda is to ensure that the 50% cap on religious selection by new state-funded faith schools in England is maintained in order to prevent publicly-funded discrimination and segregation.

Crispin Blunt said:

“I am delighted to have been elected as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, which has a long tradition of promoting human rights and addressing contemporary ethical issues in Parliament.

“There are many issues to tackle in this Parliament, including provision of non-religious pastoral support in hospitals and prisons, extending legal recognition for humanist marriages in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, supporting living wills and humane assisted dying, and countering religious extremism in schools.

“Parliamentarians await to hear the Government’s plans on faith schools. It is disappointing that parts of the faith establishments have agitated for the removal of the 50% cap on religious selection by new state-funded faith schools in England, a measure which ensures diversity and prevents isolation and segregation in the state education system. We hope that the Government will not change policy on the basis of claims by the Catholic Education Service that the cap contravenes religious doctrine. In fact, the vast majority of Catholic private schools in England do not select on the basis of religion and many openly celebrate the fact that they no not religiously select at all.

“Most people of faith, just like those of no faith, oppose religious selection in state schools. The APPHG will continue to work with Humanists UK to promote inclusive education.”

• Further information on the APPHG can be found here.
• Further information on the issue of religious lobbying around the 50% cap on religious selection can be found here.