Religious privilege is rife within the UK government, from our head of state as Supreme Governor of one church and swearing to uphold another, reserved seats for bishops in the House of Lords, to prayers in parliament and discriminatory state "faith" schools.
This is just another egregious example.
I'll be speaking at this free online event next month - please consider tuning in if interested in issues regarding religion and society in the UK!
Newly registered Christian charity referred to regulator by @natsecsoc.bsky.social after its chair preached that wives must not refuse sex and that gay people need “treatment”. Awful messages, unworthy of charitable status.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
Bridget Phillipson says universities should be places where “truth and reason triumph, not dogma”.
So why are Bible colleges receiving £80m+ in public funding despite requiring staff & students to sign doctrinal commitments?
Op-ed: @stephenmevans.bsky.social👇
www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...
Most Brits don't want religion to get special treatment from the state. New @moreincommonuk.bsky.social research makes that clear.
We're unpacking the implications for policymaking at a free online talk on 14 May. All welcome 👇
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
The Government can't credibly present itself as championing academic freedom while overlooking its systematic restriction within publicly funded religious colleges. It must be more curious and more consistent than it has been so far. @stephenmevans.bsky.social www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...
Slaughtering animals without stunning them causes immense, unnecessary suffering. Tell your MP why you support a complete ban on #NonStunSlaughter 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/mp-letter-no... #AnimalWelfare
The status of "designated religious charity" exempts religious groups from regulatory obligations - including many who are currently embroiled in safeguarding scandals or have promoted extreme homophobia.
We've urged the NI executive to think again👇
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
We've reported a newly registered Christian charity to the regulator after its chair claimed "the devil will come in" if wives refuse their husbands sex.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
News: Large religious institutions have shown repeatedly they are incapable of regulating themselves - not least through recent sex abuse scandals.
That's why we're urging the NI Executive to end the extraordinary regulatory exemptions for religious charities.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
Our advocacy work is funded entirely by our members and supporters — including through gifts in Wills.
Whether large or small, a legacy gift can help power our mission to end religious privilege and build a freer, fairer, secular society.
www.secularism.org.uk/legacies
Our advocacy work is funded entirely by our members and supporters — including through gifts in Wills.
Whether large or small, a legacy gift can help power our mission to end religious privilege and build a freer, fairer, secular society.
www.secularism.org.uk/legacies?v=21
Sadly, this is all too common under the cloak of 'the advancement of religion' - a registrable charitable purpose!
We cover this in our latest report if you're interested:
www.secularism.org.uk/mission-miso...
Telling women they have no authority over their bodies and saying gay people should be “institutionalised” serve no public benefit. Yet by classifying the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose, we end up legitimising this nonsense. @natsecsoc.bsky.social quoted.
metro.co.uk/2026/04/16/w...
Religious privilege in charity law continues to facilitate the promotion of vile misogyny and homophobia.
Reform is urgently needed to ensure the benefits of charity status registration are matched by the provision of a genuine public benefit.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
The promotion of misogyny by religious charities is a widespread problem - and one which is facilitated by religious privilege in charity law.
Read the full report👇
www.secularism.org.uk/mission-miso...
We've reported a newly registered Christian charity to the regulator after its chair claimed "the devil will come in" if wives refuse their husbands sex, and it broadcast a sermon which implied being gay should be treated as a mental illness.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
The C of E continues to enjoy significant privileges relating its established status despite the massive and continuing reduction in support for the Church in the UK.
Read about our campaign for #Disestablishment👇
www.secularism.org.uk/disestablish...
New YouGov research has found that the British public are profoundly apathetic towards the established Church of England.
Which leads us to one clear question: why is it established at all?
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
The Government’s Schools Bill risks constructing a two-tier system of different standards for different children, seemingly to satisfy religious leaders.
All children are entitled to an education, not the institutionalisation of low expectations.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2026/04...
"At a time when Britain is becoming both more religiously diverse and more irreligious, doubling down on the idea of a "Christian country" is particularly misguided."
Read our latest op-ed on the resurgence of Christian nationalism👇
www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...
Why politicians pandering to Christian nationalism is a dangerous game.
🗣️My latest op-ed for @natsecsoc.bsky.social👇
www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...
"Weakening the principle of church-state separation does not simply elevate Christianity; it undermines the very argument against those who would seek to impose religion on politics in more coercive ways."
In recent days, both Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch have rehashed a familiar line about Britain's 'Christian identity'. Its a dangerous game - echoing religious identity politics doesn't contain it, it legitimises it.
New blog from @stephenmevans.bsky.social
www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2026...
We campaign for a secular upper house with no specific religious representation, whether of Christian denominations or any other faiths. In a secular state no religion or its leaders should have a privileged role in the legislature.
Find out more: www.secularism.org.uk/scrap-bishop...
‘On this question of the relationship between Church and State, the clearest solution is for all the Lords Spiritual to step down.'
We agree – automatic seats in the legislature for CofE clergy are unfair and undemocratic. It’s time they left.
labourlist.org/2026/04/it-i...
Where any admissions criteria limit access for local or disadvantaged children, it’s right to ask whether the system is fair. State-funded schools should be inclusive and accessible to all. comprehensivefuture.org.uk/public-conce...
I'm quoted in @thirdforcenews.bsky.social on new polling commissioned by @natsecsoc.bsky.social which shows most people think charities shouldn't be allowed to promote sexism or homophobia. Charities are meant to serve a public benefit, after all.
tfn.scot/news/poll-sh...
Check out my new blog post, ‘The Dangers of Establishment’.
Read on Substack: open.substack.com/pub/sandberg...
Read on my website: sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/03/26/t...
@natsecsoc.bsky.social
I'm quoted in @farminguk.bsky.social on @natsecsoc.bsky.social -commissioned polling by @moreincommonuk.bsky.social which found most people think there shouldn't be religious exemptions from animal welfare law re: slaughter. Religion shouldn't trump animal welfare. www.farminguk.com/news/debate-...
