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Welcome to the Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats' web site

The Humanist and Secular Liberal Democrats are campaigning for Humanist and Secular views within the party. We are an Associated Organisation of the Party, affiliated to both the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society.

Recent updates

  • Liberal Democrat Spring Conference - HSLD fringe event
    Article: Jan 18, 2012

    This year's Liberal Democrat Spring Conference will see a joint fringe meeting organised by HSLD and Liberal Democrat Christian Forum.

    The event will be held at 6.15pm on Saturday 10thMarch in room MEC6 - the room is in the conference secure zone, so unfortunately only conference passholders will be able to come.

  • Darwin Fish
    Government Moves to Stop Teaching of Creationism
    Article: Jan 12, 2012
    The Westminster Government has changed the rules for 'free schools', in order to prevent "the teaching, as an evidence-based view or theory, of any view or theory that is contrary to established scientific and/or historical evidence and explanations."
    This change has been made in order to ban creationism and so-called 'intelligent design' from being taught in Free Schools, and prevent creationist groups from opening schools. This follows a campaign from the BHA and leading scientists and science educators including Sir David Attenborough, Professor Richard Dawkins and Professor Michael Reiss. Cambridge Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert was among the original signatories to the 'Teach Evolution not creationism' campaign. In 2010 Julian had proposed an Eary Day Motion (EDM 243) - Science Education in Schools.
  • Bishops in the House of Lords - petition delivered
    Article: Dec 9, 2011

    HSLD's petition against bishops in the House of Lords has been delivered to key LibDem MPs and Peers.

    Over 200 signatures were collected from members and supporters in just two weeks.

    Toby Keynes, Chair of HSLD, said "The Archbishop of Canterbury has already made it clear that his bishops will be defending their privileged position as lawmakers vigorously. In September our party conference decided by an overwhelming majority that the bishops should have no place in a reformed House of Lords. It is time to end the historical anomaly that representatives of one religious institution can decide the laws by which citizens of all faiths and of none must live. As our MPs and peers challenge the bishops' place in the Lords, we will ensure that they know they have our support, and that our party's policy is dear to the heart of many Liberal Democrats."

  • Membership / renewal form
    Document: Dec 5, 2011
    84.85 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
  • Julian Huppert MP
    Julian Huppert calls for reform of Public Order Act
    Article: Nov 5, 2011
    Lib Dem MP, Julian Huppert, has called for reform of the Public Order Act.
    Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 criminalises all those who use "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour" within the hearing or sight of a person "likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress". This has resulted in the suppression of free speech, particularly in cases involving the differences of opinion over religion - the return of blasphemy laws by the back door.
  • Collective worship in schools
    Bid to make worship optional in schools rejected by Peers
    Article: Oct 31, 2011

    Three amendments were moved by Liberal Democrat Lord Avebury during the Report Stage of the Education Bill last week.

    One of the proposed amendments would have given community schools the freedom to decide for themselves whether or not to hold acts of religious worship. A second amendment would have given pupils the right to withdraw themselves from worship. A further amendment would have allowed pupils aged 15 or older to withdraw themselves.
  • Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
    Nick Clegg's Speech to Lib Dem Conference: "Our home. Our children. Our future."
    Article: Sep 21, 2011

    In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

  • Conference agenda cover
    HSLD get involved in the Conference Debate
    Article: Sep 15, 2011

    Liberal Democrat Party Conference gets underway inBirminghamon Saturday (17th September). Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrat members have succeeded in getting two amendments on secular issues accepted for debate.

    On Saturday party representatives will be debating reform of the House of Lords. The motion welcomes the white paper as an end to patronage and privilege. However it contains proposals for retaining entrenched representation for the Church of England. We will be asking Conference to support an amendment that demands an end to this anachronism.

  • Evan Harris MP
    No Proselytising on the Public Purse
    Article: Jun 1, 2011
    Lib Dems seek to protect secularism and prevent proselytising by faith groups when they get involved in delivering public services. Already we have seen several examples of faith groups taking on the delivery of sensitive public services such as advising on sexual health.

    Evan Harris, the former Liberal Democrat MP (pictured), is among those involved in pushing to for strict guidelines to govern involvement of faith groups in public services. He said: "The party has made clear that it does not want the government to sanction 'proselytising on the public purse' when local councils or health bodies award a contract to a faith-based group."

    For the full story see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/30/lib-dems-warning-big-society-faith-groups
  • Counselling
    Catholic group awarded contract to counsel teenagers
    Article: Apr 18, 2011

    Tory-controlled Richmond upon Thames Council has withdrawn funding from a local charity that has been providing counselling to teenagers for the last twenty years and instead awarded a contract for counselling of school-age children to a Westminster based Catholic organisation that requires its counsellors to "uphold and promote the Catholic ethos of the agency".

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