News, Opinions & Podcasts

Reports: Religious homophobia fuelling conversion therapy

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:41:00 +0100

Survivors subjected to violent exorcisms and homosexuality described as "demonic", "a sin", and a condition to be 'cured'

NSS: end ban on Catholic and Jewish PMs advising on clergy

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:23:00 +0100

NSS urges minister to end "discriminatory" and "outdated" restrictions on Catholic and Jewish PMs

Scrap £86m plan for Catholic ‘super-school’, NSS urges council

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:01:00 +0100

Proposals would see ownership of buildings transferred entirely to the Catholic Church, despite being 100% publicly funded

NI: Survivors of clerical child abuse call for public inquiry

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:51:00 +0100

Harrowing report sets out testimony of violent exorcisms and sexual abuse during religious confession

Charity law is enabling religious homophobia

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:34:00 +0100

To tackle hatred and violence against gay people, we must crack down on homophobia in religious charities, says Megan Manson.

Should religious groups enjoy a ‘confessional’ exemption from mandatory reporting of abuse?

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:38:00 +0100

The Government's new mandatory reporting laws for child sexual abuse were weak to begin with. But NSS vice president and legal expert on abuse Richard Scorer explains, they may not even cover religious confessionals at all.

The CofE is keen on social justice - until it comes to Church schools

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:23:00 +0100

The Church of England is quick to voice its support for the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. But discriminatory admissions in CofE schools are harming the very same people, says Megan Manson.

NSS backs council move towards secular schooling

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:51:00 +0100

Plan to reopen faith school as nonreligious community faces legal challenge by Church in Wales

Charity Commission in contempt of Parliament over abuse cases

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:50:00 +0100

Regulator's attempt to suppress criticism of its handling of abuse claims at religious charities "wholly unacceptable", say MPs

Church “must not withdraw from politics”, CofE paper says

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:05:00 +0100

Paper warns "never" use term "Christian nationalism" when "teaching the faithful" or "talking on behalf of the Church"

NSS welcomes end to unfair faith school transport

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:44:00 +0100

Nottinghamshire County Council votes to end exclusive state funded transport for families sending children to CofE and Catholic schools

NSS welcomes Government consultation on wedding law

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:51:00 +0100

Proposals for reforming wedding law in England and Wales broadly in line with NSS recommendations

NSS refers mosque to regulator for antisemitism and homophobia

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:32:00 +0100

Hounslow Jamia Masjid hosted preacher who called for death of Jews and sermon condoning execution of gay people in Islamic states.

Council forced to withdraw CofE school evangelism claim

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:57:00 +0100

School merger consultation document wrongly claimed CofE 'never uses schools to evangelise or proselytise children'

Cohesion report: leaders must not avoid discussing extremism

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:48:00 +0100

Report authors say they were "steered away" by local leaders from discussions relating to "cultural practices"

Jewish charity investigated for illegal settlement fundraising

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:47:00 +0100

'No UK charity should be supporting them', says Keir Starmer

Report: Most Brits think UK is a secular country

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:52:00 +0100

Nearly 60% think Britain is "a secular country, not based on any single faith"

RE to be included in England’s national curriculum for first time

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:56:00 +0100

Proposals expected to include the teaching of non-religious worldviews

The Monarchy’s rebrand can’t hide Christian privilege

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:24:00 +0100

Casting the monarch as a protector of all faiths implicitly admits the unfairness of the UK's Christian privilege, argues Stephen Evans

Stop public money for CofE whilst it funds evangelism, Lords told

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:01:00 +0100

Scheme that exclusively funds active religious buildings criticised in parliamentary debate

Reform and Restore councillors object to secular reflection

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:27:00 +0100

Reform councillors complain to officials after council leader began meeting with "secular reflection in the interest of inclusivity"

Peer cites NSS report in debate on threats to democracy

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:34:00 +0100

"Shared civic values, equality and the rule of law take precedence over unrestrained religious strictures", says Baroness Falkner

Reform UK councillors try to end Islamic prayers before meetings

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:15:00 +0100

Motion to end prayers at Bolton Council defeated as councillors highlight Reform hypocrisy

Council rethinks faith school takeover amid widespread opposition

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:03:00 +0100

90% of parents whose child might attend the merged school in the future oppose the plans

Faith school “reluctant” to meet standards that go against religion

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:13:00 +0100

Independent Jewish school has been failing to meet required legal standards for more than a decade

Research: High-performing faith schools admit fewer deprived pupils

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:59:00 +0100

Report suggests faith school performance driven by their exclusion of pupils with greatest needs, NSS says

Safeguards needed to protect children from antisemitism, NSS warns

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:21:00 +0100

NSS highlights how RE, collective worship and out-of-school settings can fuel discriminatory attitudes towards Jews and other minorities

End collective worship laws, NSS urges Welsh Government

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:59:00 +0100

Supreme Court finding in JR87 should provide "impetus for reform", National Secular Society says

NSS event explores what cohesion strategy means for secularism

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:33:00 +0100

Member-exclusive event examines the Government's new social cohesion strategy and its potential impact on free speech

Success! NSS welcomes “historic” vote to end blasphemy laws in the UK

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:51:00 +0100

MLAs in Northern Ireland vote to abolish common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel

Government says creationist charities benefit the public

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:31:00 +0100

Taxpayer subsidies for pseudoscience demonstrate absurdity of religious charity law, National Secular Society says

Church of England spends £35 million on school evangelism in 2025

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:24:00 +0100

More than half of the Church's investment programmes for the year included a specific focus on schools

The weaponisation of council prayers

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:46:00 +0100

At least three Reform-controlled councils have imposed prayers on meetings. Megan Manson says this reflects a Christian nationalist agenda which threatens our country's most treasured values.

Stop funding faith school transport, NSS urges council

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:10:00 +0100

Nottinghamshire County Council is considering whether to continue paying for transport reserved for faith schools

NSS urges Government to review religious exemptions to knife laws

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:08:00 +0100

Accommodation of religious freedom should not compromise public safety or the principle of one law for all, NSS says

Thirty years of fighting for a secular UK

Fri, 29 May 2026 10:20:00 +0100

An interview with NSS president Keith Porteous Wood

Brits reject Christian nationalism, research finds

Wed, 27 May 2026 10:53:00 +0100

Over 80% Brits disagree that one should be Christian to be "truly British"

Farage pastor charity: Muslims ‘eradicating the native population’

Tue, 26 May 2026 12:44:00 +0100

Gay pride is like "Islamic jihad", claims pastor at Bread of Life church

Raise standards for charity registration, NSS tells minister

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:36:00 +0100

Kent council votes to say ‘lord’s prayer’ at meetings

Thu, 21 May 2026 16:47:00 +0100

NSS warns plans serve "a Christian nationalist agenda"

Christian charity: “Homosexualised generation” will be “deadly”

Thu, 21 May 2026 10:53:00 +0100

"The problem of rape right now in the world of our children is the fact that boys no longer rape girls. More boys now rape boys", claims pastor

NSS event with More In Common explores British views on religion

Wed, 20 May 2026 10:45:00 +0100

Online discussion highlights join research finding Brits uncomfortable with religious privilege.

End faith school discrimination against SEND children, NSS urges

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:09:00 +0100

National Secular Society says Government should "listen to the evidence" on exclusionary faith school admissions

NSS urges Kent council to drop prayer plans

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:29:00 +0100

NSS joins Green, Lib Dem and Tory councillors in opposing plans for council to begin meetings with Lord's Prayer

Head: school evangelism project has “no educational objectives”

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:08:00 +0100

Nonreligious school in Addlestone hosting Church of England youth minister to lead lessons, mentoring and "worship events"

CofE theologian says “time for disestablishment has now arrived”

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:50:00 +0100

Ordained priest Prof. Martyn Percy says ending CofE's established status is "long overdue" and would "command widespread support"

The resurgence of antisemitism is a warning to Britain

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:57:00 +0100

The ugly resurgence of antisemitism is exposing the dangers of sectarian politics, Islamist extremism and the failure to defend liberal secular values.

Parents, councillors and NSS oppose CofE school takeover

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:30:00 +0100

"Having any religion imposed upon pupils, and on staff, must be a cause for concern", says Lib Dem councillor

Atheist professor’s award vetoed by Turkish Government

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:34:00 +0100

Honorary doctorate blocked due to public criticism of religion, Peter Atkins says

Independent faith schools should not join state sector, NSS warns

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:03:00 +0100

Encouraging independent faith schools to join state sector poses "risks to social cohesion", NSS tells minister

MPs seek to end ”automatic right” to religious charitable status

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:27:00 +0100

All-Party Parliamentary Group on spiritual and cultic abuse will attempt to end "automatic right" of religious groups to charitable status

NSS to host discussion on British attitudes to secularism

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:28:00 +0100

Free online event on May 14th will explore new More In Common research on Briton's views on religion and society

Bible colleges: the government’s academic freedom blind spot

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:55:00 +0100

The Government risks inconsistency by championing academic freedom while funding institutions that restrict it, warns Stephen Evans

End regulatory carve outs for religious charities, NSS urges NI

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:03:00 +0100

"Designated religious charity" status should be abolished as many such charities fail on safeguarding, NSS says

Christian charity: ‘Devil will come in’ if wife refuses husband sex

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:40:00 +0100

Men who dress as women "revolting" and "repulsive", says chair of trustees

Poll: over 70% Brits ‘don’t care’ about Church of England

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:10:00 +0100

NSS says figures demonstrate need to disestablish Church.

Schools bill risks creating ‘two-tier’ education system, NSS warns

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:24:00 +0100

NSS says bill intended to tackle unregistered faith schools may entrench lower standards for children in some religious communities

Pandering to Christian nationalism is a dangerous game

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:47:00 +0100

When mainstream politicians start echoing religious identity politics, they don't contain it, they legitimise it.

Britain has changed. The relationship between religion and state must change, too

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:12:00 +0000

New NSS-commissioned research reveals Britons are quietly but firmly secularist in instinct. Stephen Evans says in our increasingly diverse society, secularism is not a niche ideological project – it is a practical necessity.

Brits ‘uncomfortable with religious privilege’, polling suggests

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:19:00 +0000

Research finds public oppose CofE privileges, state-funded faith schools, circumcision and non-stun slaughter

NSS welcomes proposals for more ‘pluralist’, ‘objective’ RE in NI

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:25:00 +0000

Review cannot meet objectives without removing Christian privilege in education system, NSS warns

Islamic charity: ‘Mandatory for wives to do housework and serve’

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:58:00 +0000

Government plans to address extremism in charity sector must include cracking down on misogyny, says NSS

UN: Religious circumcision victim calls for boys to be protected

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:27:00 +0000

'True religious freedom must include the freedom not to have beliefs inscribed into one's body without consent'

Regulator facing judicial review over ‘bible college’ inaction

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:35:00 +0000

Christian colleges which block speech that conflicts with dogma have received £86mn in public funding

UN: Religious circumcision victim calls for boys to be protected

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:49:00 +0000

Wales to update collective worship school guidance

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:27:00 +0000

NSS will call for end to collective worship in response to review

Cohesion strategy: Fine words on free speech – but still too timid on religion

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:32:00 +0000

The Government's new social cohesion strategy contains welcome language on free speech and liberal values – but reveals a continuing tendency to pander to faith-based pressure.

Success! Prosecution guidance includes circumcision for first time

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:25:00 +0000

Circumcision of boys may constitute "child cruelty" and prosecutors instructed to consult child abuse guidance

NSS welcomes inclusion of religion in grooming gangs inquiry

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:59:00 +0000

Inquiry to examine how religion and culture played a role in local and national responses to grooming gangs

NSS: Tory pledge on integration must end faith based admissions

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:23:00 +0000

Kemi Badenoch says protected characteristics will not be used as criteria for admissions

NSS report shows “broken charity system in need of repair”, MP says

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:03:00 +0000

Safeguarding minister says idea that organisations which promote hatred of women can be charities is "an alien one"

The modern-day blasphemy case that should never have been brought

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:31:00 +0000

Stephen Evans hails the High Court's dismissal of the CPS appeal as a victory for free expression – but he says it raises serious questions about how such a flawed case was ever authorised.

Success: High Court upholds acquittal in Quran-burning case

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:49:00 +0000

NSS welcomes decision to reject CPS appeal to reinstate Hamit Coskun's conviction for burning a Quran in protest

MP calls for labelling of meat from non-stun slaughter

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:48:00 +0000

Ten minute rule bill highlights Government failures on animal welfare and consumer choice regarding religious slaughter

NSS welcomes move to abolish Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:47:00 +0000

Alliance MLA submits amendment to Justice Bill which would repeal common law offences of 'blasphemy' and 'blasphemous libel'

Lord Spiritual arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:24:00 +0000

Bishop of Lincoln, who sits ex officio in the Lords, is alleged to have sexually assaulted man between 2018 and 2025

NSS: Scotland RE bill ‘makes matters worse’ for children’s rights

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:43:00 +0000

Bill gives pupils veto over parents to remain in religious observance, but does not allow pupils to withdraw themselves

I’m a Muslim but burning the Koran is no crime

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:54:00 +0000

The act is deeply distasteful but personal offence cannot be the legal test

Judgement reserved in Quran-burning case

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:33:00 +0000

A "universal" test for disorderly conduct "completely eviscerates any idea of protest", Hamit Coskun's defence says

Free speech at stake in Quran-burning case, NSS warns

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

High Court to hear CPS appeal against quashing of Hamit Coskun's conviction.

Christian charity: homosexuality is "lewd, unnatural and vile"

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:39:00 +0000

Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) also warns wives should not 'nag like a dripping tap'

Faith school which has never passed Ofsted inspection fails again

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:15:00 +0000

Ahavas Torah Boys Academy has been judged unacceptable since 2014

UN endorses NSS recommendations on clerical abuse in Spain

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:52:00 +0000

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child calls for reparations for victims and an end to religious exemptions to mandatory reporting

Scottish NHS spending hundreds of thousands on ritual circumcision

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:17:00 +0000

New research reveals Scottish NHS is spending hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money a year on ritual genital cutting

Struck off circumcision doctor still circumcising boys

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:03:00 +0000

NSS calls for Government action to protect boys amid "catastrophic failure of child safeguarding"

Amendments to strengthen children’s rights defeated

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:55:00 +0000

NSS backed amendments to introduce mandatory child rights assessments and improve transparency on faith based admissions

School says religiously restricted curriculum “non-negotiable”

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Bnois Jerusalem Girls School does not allow pupils to sit any recognised qualifications

NSS supports ‘No Hijab Day’ discussion in Leicester

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:52:00 +0000

Event featuring ex-Muslim women required extra security following protests from Islamic groups.

NI Executive announces review of Religious Education syllabus

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:59:00 +0000

Decision comes after Supreme Court found RE and collective worship in Northern Ireland breach human rights

Christian charity breaks fundraising rules on ‘exploiting’ donors

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:49:00 +0000

UCKG solicited "large donation" from woman they knew suffered from mental health issues, regulator finds

Guidance on collective worship to be reviewed, Government says

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:58:00 +0000

NSS calls for removal of law requiring daily acts of worship in schools following NI Supreme Court ruling

Protect character of nonreligious Welsh schools, NSS urges

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:09:00 +0000

Case of Llanidloes High School demonstrates need for explicit safeguards against promotion of religious belief, Welsh Government told

Tribunal: Sarah Mullally “plainly wrong” in safeguarding decision

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:32:00 +0000

Newly installed archbishop of Canterbury criticised in ruling after archbishop of York praised sex offender as 'Rolls Royce' priest

Success! Isle of Man strips bishop of ex officio voting rights

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:12:00 +0000

"Westminster must follow by ending the bishops' privileges in the House of Lords once and for all", says NSS

Charity regulator censures CofE dioceses for safeguarding failures

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:37:00 +0000

Charity Commission issues official warning to dioceses which mishandled allegations of sexual assault against former bishop of Liverpool

Faith school stops Ofsted asking pupils about other cultures

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:16:00 +0000

Inspection finds Bnei Zion Community School has failed to address serious failures for almost a decade

Iran: The generation that broke faith with theocracy

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:47:00 +0000

British-Iranian secularist and human rights activist Maryam Namazie explains why the Iran protests are different this time – and why young Iranians are embracing secularism.

Council to take no action against school which promoted creationism

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:21:00 +0000

NSS says review into community school raises "serious questions about current guidance on religion in schools in Wales"

Include religious slaughter in animal welfare strategy, NSS urges

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Credibility of new Animal Welfare Strategy 'seriously undermined' by failure to review non-stun slaughter, NSS says

CPS draft guidance classes circumcision as potential child abuse

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:06:00 +0000

Circumcision "may be a form of child abuse or an offence against the person", says draft prosecution guidance