British Humanist Association

8.57.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 31st Mar 2010

The British Humanist Association (BHA) have published their General Election Manifesto. The BHA is the national charity representing the interests of the large and growing population of ethically concerned non-religious people in the UK.

It exists to support and represent people who seek to live good and responsible lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. The numbers of such people are growing and current figures (from the British Social Attitudes survey of January 2010) suggest that 43% of the population is happy to self-identify as non-religious, with the numbers of those not practising or affiliated to a religion much higher.

The BHA is committed to human rights, equality, democracy, and an end to irrelevant discrimination, and has a long history of engagement in work for an open and inclusive society. In such a society, people of all beliefs would have equal treatment before the law, and the rights of those with all beliefs to hold and live by them would be reasonably accommodated within a legal framework setting minimum common legal standards.

The Manifesto set out the BHA's vision on a number of core areas of work, from human rights to faith schools to free speech. These are all important issues for the millions of non-religious people in the UK.

www.humanism.org.uk

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The BHA have set out a number of questions their members should ask candidates. Here are their questions with my responses:

1. Should government departments treat humanist, secular and religious organisations equally in policy making, funding decisions and consultations?

Yes as regards policy making and consultations. With funding decisions what matters is the purpose of the activity being funded - religious organisations do a lot of good work at various levels and this should be encouraged.

2. Should religious organisations be contracted to deliver public services?

If they wish to bid for contracts they should be entitled to do so. Any contract for public services would include terms and conditions preventing discrimination or other mis-use by the contractor.

3. What do you think the government's policy should be on faith schools?

I would prefer there not to be faith schools, but in reality they are likely to continue. What is important is that they provide a balanced liberal education, and local education authorities should continue to ensure that they do.

4. What do you think about exemptions for religious organisations from aspects of anti-discrimination and equality legislation?

There should not be exemptions from legislation.

5. Would you vote to retain or remove bishops from the House of Lords?

Remove.

6. How would you vote on abortion / assisted dying for the terminally ill?

Abortion legislation is about right at the moment. I support legalisation of assisted dying for the terminally ill.

7. Will you defend the Human Rights Act?

Yes

8. Do you think dialogue work that doesn't include non-religious people (e.g. 'interfaith' work) is desirable?

Yes.

9. Do you think that religious leaders should have privileged access to policy and decision makers?

Religious leaders should have access to politicians - it's the job of government ministers to listen to those who represent large numbers of people. However that access should not be 'privileged' in the sense of allowing excessive influence.

10. Do you think that publicly funded faith schools should be allowed to discriminate in their admissions and employment?

No.