The Palace of Westminster against a cloudy sky. With the UK electing its first atheist Prime Minister, is it time we reassessed the relationship between politics and religion in Westminster?

Gemma Gradwell

Is religion a legacy of the past or a continuous force in UK politics? Rising secularism and religious diversity pose interesting questions for the future relationship between state and religion.

The UK has historically been a Christian nation. The Church of England is heavily entwined with state and government through the role of Lords Spiritual, and Christian values are embedded in our law. But the election of a secular prime minister and a declining percentage of the population identifying as Christian have called this into question. Does religion retain any importance in UK politics, and should it?

A Sign of Religious Decline?

As the polls came in on 24 July, it was clear the nation had decisively voted for Labour’s Keir Starmer. Many things were notable about this result, not least Starmer’s status as the first non-religious Prime Minister. Whilst other factors overshadowed the commentary on this particular factor, it should not be overlooked.

The religion of previous Prime Ministers has differed, with Rishi Sunak saying his Hindu religion gave him ‘strength’ in the face of political problems. Even Boris Johnson had a rather confusing relationship with different Christian denominations. Very rarely, however, has religion of a Prime Minister been a key consideration for the UK population.

Politicians seem to be recognising this fact. 40 per cent of MPs have recently chosen not to swear an oath on a religious text when affirming their allegiance to the King. This includes Starmer and half of his cabinet. With nearly half of the Commons not reporting any faith, does this mean religious influence is waning in politics as well as in the public?

Where Does Religion Stand in The UK?

“The presence of bishops in the House of Lords may also be out of step with UK demographics”

The UK does not have full separation of church and state. Due to the two established churches, the Anglican Church of England and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, religion plays an clear role in public and political life.

The House of Lords controversially maintains 26 Lords Spiritual: bishops appointed for services to the church. This is an ancient feature of the relationship between church and state, and is criticised for being outdated. Humanists UK describe the presence of bishops in the House of Lords as an “example of discrimination, religious privilege, and undemocratic politics.” They, and other groups, argue that the UK should be a secular state that equally represents all religions.

The presence of bishops in the House of Lords may also be out of step with UK demographics. In the 2021 England and Wales census, less than 50 per cent of the population identified as Christian for the first time, with around 37 per cent identifying as non-religious. Around 6.5 per cent identified as Muslim. Among those aged 66 and under, more were non-religious than religious. This calls into question whether an unrepresentative religious privilege in the House of Lords is credible. In a country with multiple sizeable religious communities and non-religious individuals, it is hard to justify why bishops are given privileged access to the House of Lords.

On Religion and Multiculturalism

The solution is not simply to oust religion from public life entirely. France’s policy of ‘laïcité’ (secularism, especially in public life) has been criticised for repressing religious identities. It granted a license to repressive ideologies, such as through banning face coverings in public spaces. The last thing UK politics needs is to spark that kind of derisiveness. Religion, and the freedom to practice religion, is not the problem.

“In a multicultural, multi-faith society, representation of all kinds is necessary”

Religious MPs might be the only way to adequately represent some communities – especially those whose political views are inherently entwined with their religious beliefs. They can serve to promote tolerance and prevent discrimination in UK society. Zarah Sultana, the Muslim MP for Coventry, frequently addresses issues related to discrimination on the basis of faith in Parliament. In a multicultural, multi-faith society, representation of all kinds is necessary.

The problem comes when certain faiths are overrepresented in politics. It comes when individuals are guided in law-making by faith-based principles that do not wholly represent UK society. We should not have Lords Spiritual without representation for Muslims, Hindus and other faiths. And religious people of any faith should not be given privileged access to the Lords that those without faith cannot access. UK politics must represent the current state of the UK: a country with thriving multi-faith communities, but also a significant fraction of the population being non-religious.

Starmer’s government should take steps to assure that this vision of politics co-existing with faith, but not dependant on it, can be realised. He should be careful not to tip the scale too far either way, and must strike a careful balance.

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Photo courtesy of Markus Leo via Unsplash. No changes were made to this photo. License available here.

Hey! I'm an International Relations student who is passionate about writing on current affairs, politics and literature.

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