From Sunday to Wednesday, Humanists UK attracted hundreds of new members and supporters as it exhibited at the annual conference of the Labour Party in the south coast city of Brighton, surpassing the level of interest in previous years. Humanists UK is attending the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Conservative conferences this year, with an affiliated stand and fringe events at all three.
On the Tuesday morning Humanists UK, alongside Labour Humanists, hosted its popular ‘No Prayer Breakfast’ fringe event in which delegates heard from and questioned leading humanist voices in the Labour Party. This year’s panel included Angela Eagle MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP, London Assembly Member Tom Copley, and chair of Labour Humanists and journalist and broadcaster Joan Smith. Humanists UK’s Chief Executive Andrew Copson chaired the discussion. Over 100 delegates and visitors attended the event to listen to discussion on a variety of topics from the provision of new faith schools to the need for legal recognition of humanist marriages.
In addition to the fringe event Humanists UK had a stand in the conference’s main exhibition. Over the course of the four day conference, the stand attracted a large number of visitors, with several hundred delegates signing up for either membership or to be on the mailing list. Over a dozen MPs and peers were photographed with Humanists UK selfie frames while visiting the stand. The main theme of the stand was to highlight Government plans to remove the 50% cap religious selection in new faith schools. The removal of this cap would allow such schools to select 100% of their pupils on the basis of religion. This would discriminate against local children of non-religious parents or the parents of other faiths, as well as damaging integration within the local community. Humanists UK aimed to raise awareness of the proposed cap and gather support from within the Labour Party membership to oppose this change.
During his leader’s speech, Jeremy Corbyn committed the Labour Party to introducing opt-out system of organ donation in England, should the party be returned to power. It is thought that this system will dramatically increase the number of organs available for donation; saving many more lives, and is a move Humanists UK has long campaigned for.
Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented, ‘We are delighted with the success of our presence at the Labour Party Conference this year. The number of delegates joining Humanists UK as either members or supporters has surpassed records from previous years and our expectations.
‘Humanists UK works with members and supporters in all political parties. Last week we were also at the Liberal Democrats conference, where Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats had a stand and organised two fringe events, one of which – on illegal religious schools – I spoke at. Next week, we will be attending the Conservative party conference, where again we will have a stand and are co-organising fringes with the Conservative Humanists, including with new Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, Crispin Blunt MP.’
Notes
For further comment or information contact Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at richy@humanists.uk or 020 7324 3072.
At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.
Humanists UK recently changed its name from the British Humanist Association: https://humanists.uk/2017/05/22/bha-becomes-humanists-uk/