Megan Manson

Government greenlights no anaesthesia circumcision of boys CPS: unanaesthetised circumcision was "gratuitous infliction of pain" and "deliberate disregard" for child welfare Read More »

Despite calls for urgent safeguards to be implemented for ritual circumcisions, the government has responded to a series of PQs from Lib Dem peer Paul Scriven by refusing to say whether unanaesthetised non-therapeutic circumcisions are even legal.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/12...

Bradlaugh’s struggle to enter Parliament

#OnThisDay in 1888 #CharlesBradlaugh’s Affirmation Bill was approved - allowing MPs to affirm rather than take a religious oath. This concluded an 8 year struggle which began with the Speaker’s refusal to allow Bradlaugh to take the oath. Read more 👇 www.secularism.org.uk/bradlaughs-s...

'Putting Christ back into Christmas': Carol concert announced as follow up to Tommy Robinson rally - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis Controversial far-right activist Tommy Robinson has announced a carol event in London, urging his followers to "put Christ back into Christmas".

Someone better warn Tommy in advance that "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" is not technically a carol, and in fact refers to snow.

premierchristian.news/en/news/arti...

Every month I donate to a different cause that’s important to me. This month I’m supporting Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity which supports children, young people and families in the lead up to or following the death of someone close to them. www.sandybear.co.uk

MSPs: amend RO bill to include independent right of withdrawal MSP cites "particularly powerful case" made by National Secular Society Read More »

A Scottish bill that would make it harder for parents to withdraw children from religious observance has passed its first stage.

Reform is badly needed, but this bill's asymmetrical approach is fundamentally misguided.

We've urged a change of tack👇

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...

Thank you Baroness Burt for raising our Mission & Misogyny report in Parliament today. We're glad the minister agrees some of the examples of misogyny in religious charities we found are "absolutely shocking". Read the report: www.secularism.org.uk/women/missio...

Accused, shunned, exiled: The women banished to Ghana’s ‘witch camps’ Women accused of witchcraft are cast out of their communities in north Ghana. Now some are trying to break this cycle.

“It is violence against women - a demonisation of women,” Azumah says... Women accused of witchcraft are feared and condemned, while men who are accused of it are thought to use it for protection or good, he explains. www.aljazeera.com/features/lon...

David Dimbleby helped save 100-year-old secular school from merging with faith school It could have been merged with Cathedral Primary School

Very happy to be quoted in a story where David Dimbleby makes the headline! (And of course very happy for the children and parents who successfully resisted a Church school taking over their secular school) uk.news.yahoo.com/david-dimble...

How the UK's ancient stones are drawing renewed awareness of the sacred PENZANCE, England (RNS) — The United Kingdom is studded with megalithic formations dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze ages. Many are finding in them a portal to the sacred.

“I couldn’t really worship in a church, in a sort of sterile environment,” he said. “I worship in nature.” religionnews.com/2025/11/21/h...

Odinist Fellowship accused of being far-right given new guidance after denying racism The religion talks about people choosing marriage partners 'from among their own kind'

Is giving 'advice and guidance' to a charity with a long history of connections with ethnonationalist ideologies really adequate? What public benefit does this charity actually serve? uk.news.yahoo.com/odinist-fell... @thewildhunt.bsky.social

These two statements are not compatible, @melaniephillips.substack.com.web.brid.gy. Outlawing the burning of specifically religious books (and yes, I include books from my own religion here) *IS* a blasphemy law.

DUP MLA accuses Alliance Party of not ruling out “Witchcraft” or “Paganism” being taught in primary schools… DUP MLA for South Antrim Trevor Clarke took to his Facebook page with the following post: I nearly fell off my chair this morning when I heard on the Nolan Show that the Alliance Party’s Chair of the ...

If you think Christianity should be taught in schools, but think there's something outrageous about Paganism being taught in schools, be honest: what you actually want is schools to indoctrinate children into Christianity. sluggerotoole.com/2025/11/24/d... @thewildhunt.bsky.social

Here's a taster of what our research found, and what I'll be showing at the presentation....

Members' Day 2025

Looking forward to speaking at @natsecsoc.bsky.social's Members' Day this Sat. I'll be presenting the NSS's research into sexism & violence against women promoted by religious charities. If you're an NSS member you can book your free place here: www.secularism.org.uk/members-day-...

Victory for parents as school merger is refused But there is still uncertainty over the future of one of Bristol's smallest primary schools

I'm quoted in @bristolpost.co.uk on the fantastic victory of parents with children at Hotwells Primary, which was threatened with takeover by a Church school. Very proud to have worked with parents to stop the loss of the only local nonreligious primary!
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

The Supreme Court has spoken. Now collective worship laws must go This week's landmark ruling must mean politicians cease turning a blind eye to the human rights concerns surrounding RE and collective worship in our schools, says Stephen Evans. Read More »

Following the NI Supreme Court ruling on RE & collective worship, @stephenmevans.bsky.social reflects on the implications for similarly archaic arrangements in a Britain which is diverse, increasingly nonreligious, and largely committed to freedom of belief.

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

This is truly heartening news. I'm very happy for the children and parents whose school has been spared from religious takeover. We need schools to bring families together - not divide them along religious lines.

Amazing news!!

It's obvious what should happen next: collective worship laws must be repealed in NI, England, Wales and Scotland.

This is great news for animal welfare. It should’ve happened a long time ago, but I’m really glad it’s finally happening now. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11...

I stand with #BettyLachgar. It should never be a crime to say whatever deity is whatever sexual orientation. #FreeBetty #100Days

The preacherman-o-sphere: the religious misogynists exploiting our charity sector - The Freethinker Last year, a video went viral on social media. It featured a young man explaining that a woman…

'Misogyny is undeniably present in too many religious charities—and is, in effect, being subsidised by public funds via tax breaks and sometimes Gift Aid,' says Megan Manson of the National Secular Society. @natsecsoc.bsky.social

freethinker.co.uk/2025/11/the-...

Singing of KPop Demon Hunters songs banned at school in Poole The head teacher tells parents references to demons can feel

A reminder that Church of England schools are state funded. Our taxes are paying for this kind of paranoid religious nonsense to be taught to children. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

As Japan’s female leader rises, can she cross sumo’s sacred line? Professional sumo’s ring remains off-limits to women and girls — not by law, but by centuries of belief and tradition.

"We’ve been rethinking so many things as times change, but sumo is still hiding behind vague words like ‘tradition’ and ‘custom.’ That era is over. If we let this moment slip by, nothing will ever change.”

www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/...

The preacherman-o-sphere: the religious misogynists exploiting our charity sector - The Freethinker Last year, a video went viral on social media. It featured a young man explaining that a woman…

I’ve written for @thefreethinkermag.bsky.social on my report into how some charities exploit religious privilege in charity law to promote sexism, patriarchy and violence against women. freethinker.co.uk/2025/11/the-...

‘Demonic’ Wind in the Willows jumper banned from Westminster Abbey Woman told to remove or cover up garment featuring 1908 illustration of Pan lest it offend worshippers

For context: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Following that ridiculous incident at Westminster Abbey, I have just bought this. everpress.imgix.net/img/campaign...

@thewildhunt.bsky.social

‘Demonic’ Wind in the Willows jumper banned from Westminster Abbey Woman told to remove or cover up garment featuring 1908 illustration of Pan lest it offend worshippers

“I started to tell him, because I’m a total history nerd, that there are loads of folklore and mythology-related carvings inside the abbey, and I was talking about the Green Man, but he wasn’t having it. He said: ‘Well, it’s got horns and it’s demonic.’ www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Plans to merge nonreligious school into faith school cancelled Over 80% parents surveyed said they would be "uncomfortable" sending children to faith school. Read More »

Plans to merge a nonreligious school into a Church of England school, with the latter's faith character retained, have been cancelled after a survey of parents found nearly 95% would have sent their child to another school if the merger went ahead.

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/11...

Excellent news indeed. Well done Isle of Man for choosing democracy over religious privilege 🇮🇲