Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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1. 

   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

2. 

   The defence of a Christian view never seems to be settled by debate: exchange of facts, reference to historical events.…

3. 

   But …… Rwanda is a safe place: Parliament says so.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/8/contentsSafety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 S 2 Safety…

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   Religion can survive only on the most unquestionable assumptions. The statements made on Sundays on the BBC as if they…

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   Yes, if I’ve got anything remotely like a phobia, as an ex-fundy, its bibles, churches, tracts etc. I like to…

THE UK’s National Secular Society (NSS) today welcomed a decision by East Lothian Council to act on the findings of a public consultation that showed that 84 per cent of respondents believed religious representatives should not be allowed to vote on policy decisions, particularly in regard to education.

It’s joy, according to this report, was not shared by councillors who felt it was a wrong move. One—Donna Collins—went as far as to say:

I wonder if this is the start of the removal of any representation or moral compass from the education committee. It sits uneasy with me.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, council leader, is also unhappy over the vote to remove the voting rights from the unelected members, which include union reps. He said:

East Lothian Council’s education committee has, since it was formed in 1996, had unelected members. There have been no disagreements between religious groups and trade unions.

I think asking people to come along and take part in a committee but not allowing them to vote is wrong.

The NSS points out that East Lothian has become the sixth this year to end voting powers for unelected religious representatives, following campaigning from the Society.

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 obliges local authorities in Scotland to appoint three religious representatives to their education committees, at least one of whom must be appointed by the Roman Catholic Church and one by the Church of Scotland.

In its response to the consultation, the NSS said reserving a special role in policymaking for representatives of specific religious institutions excludes the majority of Scottish citizens based on their religion or belief, and “clearly runs counter to principles of equality”.

It said religious appointees “do not speak for the vast majority of Scots” and instead “serve to uphold the agendas of religious institutions, primarily the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church”.

The most recently available Scottish Social Attitudes Survey data shows 58 percent of Scots, including 74 percent of 18–34s, have no religion.

The motion to remove votes from unelected members was carried by 11 votes to 10.

The NSS said councils across Scotland are increasingly questioning the appropriateness of religious representatives.

In August, the City of Edinburgh Council voted to end religious appointees’ voting powers. Orkney Council and the Highland Council voted to remove these privileges in May, followed by Fife Council and Stirling Council in June.

Perth and Kinross Council, Moray Council and Scottish Borders Council have also removed religious representatives’ voting powers.

NSS: Public response ‘speaks volumes‘

NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said:

We welcome East Lothian Council’s decision to join five other councils this year in removing the unjustifiable voting privileges of religious representatives.

The council’s consultation found the overwhelming majority of respondents agreed that these voting powers needed to go.

That speaks volumes, as does the sheer number of councils this year which voted to end these voting powers. This should cause the Scottish Government to rethink not only the religious appointees’ votes, but the wisdom of requiring any religious representatives on local education committees at all.

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