Equality legislation creating social tension, say Christian MPs

Christian MPs and peers have warned that recent equality legislation is creating, not preventing, social tensions.

Christians in Parliament blamed the Equality Act 2010 for the “erosion of freedoms” in Britain and said that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) had failed to adequately represent or protect religion, while privileging the rights of other groups.

The group outlines its concerns in a new report that draws on evidence from more than 50, mostly Christian organisations.

Although the report makes clear that the current experience of Christians in the UK does not amount to persecution, it warns that Christianity is being squeezed out of public life.

Jim Dobbin MP said the problem with recent equality legislation was the way in which it was being implemented.

“There is nothing in the Equality Act that supports us in healing our differences. Rather, it promotes a tendency to respond to inequality through creating sameness,” he said.

The report identifies widespread religious illiteracy at the level of government as well as throughout wider society, a trend it says is reflected in the increasingly prevalent assumption that religious belief should be confined to a person’s private life.

It concludes with several recommendations, including changes to the law, more public education about religion at the government level, improved guidance for local authorities, and a restructuring of the EHRC.

Gavin Shuker MP said there was an “urgent need” to provide statutory bodies and employers with clearer guidance on “what religion is, how it should be treated and how it makes a huge and vital contribution to our society”.

“Nobody wants to see a society heading down the tram lines of an American-style culture war. In order to make the courtroom the very last option, we all need to work harder at finding solutions when the rights of different groups are in tension,” he said.

Fiona Bruce MP said: “For the first time we have a thorough report articulating the real concerns of Christians across our nation who feel that their freedoms to live out and speak freely about their beliefs are increasingly restricted - action must follow.”