No more prayers in Parliament, MPs say

MPs from Labour, Lib Dems, Greens and SNP sign motion to end prayers before House of Commons sittings

MPs have called for an end to prayers as part of the official business of Parliament in a motion backed by the National Secular Society.

The early day motion (EDM), tabled by Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan this week, says religious worship “should not play any part in the formal business of the House of Commons”.

It adds that parliamentary prayers are “not compatible with a society which respects the principle of freedom of and from religion”, and calls on the modernisation committee to “consider alternative arrangements”.

Six other MPs, including those from the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the Scottish National Party, have also signed the EDM.

Early day motions are single-sentence motions which formally call for a debate on a subject at an early opportunity and which MPs are invited to sign. A similar motion in 2019 attracted a total of 15 signatures.

Sittings in both the House of Commons and the Lords begin with Anglican prayers. Obtaining a ‘prayer card’ and attending prayers is in practice the only way to reserve seats in the chamber, meaning MPs who wish to attend or speak in busy sessions may have to attend the prayers.

Green MP Ellie Chowns, who signed the EDM, last year called the ‘prayer card’ system for reserving seats “frankly rather ridiculous”.

Following the July general election, 259 MPs made a secular affirmation, rather than a religious oath, to take their seat in Parliament. In 2019 this figure was approximately 150. In total, nearly half (46%) of MPs in the new Parliament either took a secular affirmation or swore on a non-Christian text.
Analysis by Pew Research Center last year revealed less than 10% of people in the UK pray every day – the lowest percentage out of 102 countries.

Last year the NSS wrote to Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle and to Parliament’s Modernisation Committee calling for an end to parliamentary prayers. The society is also encouraging supporters to write to their MPs to urge them to sign the EDM.

NSS: Ending parliamentary prayers would be “positive step forwards for modernity, equality and freedom of conscience.”

NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “Religious worship is for individuals who choose it. It certainly shouldn’t be part of Parliament’s official business which MPs must attend if they wish to guarantee a seat.

“Members of Parliament are of course free to pray in their own time, but institutionalised prayer doesn’t belong in the legislative process. Parliament should reflect the country as it is today.

“Ending this anachronism would be a tangible example of the reform needed in the house and represent a positive step forwards for modernity, equality and freedom of conscience.”

The motion in full reads: “That this House recognises religious worship should not play any part in the formal business of the House of Commons; believes that Parliamentary meetings should be conducted in a manner equally welcoming to all attendees, irrespective of their personal beliefs; further believes that Parliamentary Prayers are not compatible with a society which respects the principle of freedom of and from religion; and urges that prayers should not form part of the official business of Parliament; and calls on the Modernisation Committee to consider alternative arrangements.”