Write to your candidates to find out their views on humanist issues

14 April, 2015

You can write to your candidates through an online service we have set up for this purpose.

The British Humanist Association (BHA) is encouraging its supporters to write to their prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) to find out their views on a range of issues of importance to the non-religious. Now represents a great time to establish the views of those who will be representing us in the coming five years, and to ensure that humanist issues remain high up the political agenda.

Candidates are being asked about their views on seven issues, namely ‘faith’ school admissions, Humanism in the school curriculum, the introduction of high-quality, comprehensive statutory Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) and Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), Bishops in the House of Lords, the legalisation of humanist marriage, the retention of the Human Rights Act 1998, and the legalisation of assisted dying.

The BHA has also produced a nine-question guide for you to print out and use at local hustings or to ask questions of candidates on the doorstep, and is encouraging its local groups to take part in or organise hustings of their own. The BHA will also publish a comparison of all the political manifestos in relation to its nine key questions, as it did in 2010, after all the party manifestos have been released.

BHA Campaigns Manager Richy Thompson commented, ‘The election is a hugely important time for the country and everybody should use it as an opportunity to find out the views of their candidates and encourage them to support humanist positions. On issues such as “faith” school admissions and assisted dying, there has been a huge gap between the views of the general public, which have been in favour of reform, and those of previous parliaments, and this is due to the powerful influence of certain religious groups. Speaking out at times like these is the only way we can bring about change in these areas.’

Notes

For further comment or information, please contact BHA Campaigns Manager Richy Thompson at richy@humanists.uk or on 020 7324 3072.

Write to your candidates through our tool: http://campaign.publicaffairsbriefing.co.uk/EmailSupport.aspx?cid=85c9784e-ab0d-4e2a-8313-ec3446907f08

Find out more about our election work: https://humanists.uk/what-you-can-do-to-help/take-action-2015-general-election/

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.

The BHA is independent of all political parties and does not support, fund or advocate any particular political party.