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Original poster

Oh Lord! Kent County Council

117 replies

Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 06:31

Kent County Council under Reform are putting a vote to full council to start council meetings with the Lords Prayer.

I get the anti Muslim bit, but don't they realise how many of us are atheists?

They also want to sing the National Anthem. I can sort of see their point with that one, but it's not going to get the bins collected, is it?

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 11/05/2026 08:05

Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 08:01

We should just ban all religious ceremony at all government meetings. I didn't know this went on.

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Neither did I - maybe Kent county council are doing it to make some kind of point
re religious ceremony at government meetings?

I don't know - it's all batshit in my mind whoever is doing it.

Twiglets1 · 11/05/2026 08:03

Ridiculous.

Keep religion out of it!

Original poster
Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 08:01

ProudAmberTurtle · 11/05/2026 07:59

Several councils start the day with the Islamic call to prayer.

There's videos of chanting in Arabic.

Oldham Council recently got an Imam to recite Muslim prayers before council meetings:

https://christianconcern.com/comment/islamic-prayers-in-oldham-council/?hl=en-GB

We should just ban all religious ceremony at all government meetings. I didn't know this went on.

OP posts:
hahabahbag · 11/05/2026 07:56

Many council meetings do start with prayers, perhaps not at county level but our town council does and they meet in the church hall because the town council one’s roof collapsed. The issue isn’t prayers, it’s the posturing and trying to alienate people.

yellowbarnoreturns · 11/05/2026 07:52

The dumbest thing is that in Muslim majority councils, of course Muslim councillors will conduct Muslim prayers 😂So much for secularism.

Original poster
Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 07:50

Oncemorewithsome · 11/05/2026 07:48

Just for the record, I’m a church going, very religious Christian and I strongly oppose this. How dare Reform hijack my faith which says the greatest command is to love my neighbour for facist purposes.
I know many other Christians who would also find this deeply offensive. It’s cosplaying faith.

Well said. I do feel that at heart it's intended to be a passive aggressive move against Moslems.

OP posts:
Original poster
Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 07:49

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 11/05/2026 07:45

It's because we are not officially a secular country. We have a state religion- C of E.
I think there should be a disestablishment of Church and State. Prince William clearly isn't religious and can't be bothered with it ( or much) so there's no reason why he should be head of State and Head of the C of E when his time comes. If they were separate we could have rules banning all religious practices in State buildings, and probably State schools.

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Yes, and France is legally secular, which is what I would prefer.

I hope William manages to find a way to drop being head off the CofE when he becomes King.

OP posts:
Oncemorewithsome · 11/05/2026 07:48

Just for the record, I’m a church going, very religious Christian and I strongly oppose this. How dare Reform hijack my faith which says the greatest command is to love my neighbour for facist purposes.
I know many other Christians who would also find this deeply offensive. It’s cosplaying faith.

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 11/05/2026 07:45

Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 07:37

I've said already I'm an atheist and I don't want religion mixed up with local politics.

A council shouldn't have a little clique of people who exclude others from an activity at the start of a session where they are going to discuss, for example, a contentious planning issue. And yes, praying does exclude people from the group.

It would be illegal in France and should not be being reintroduced here after dying out as a practice, imo.

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It's because we are not officially a secular country. We have a state religion- C of E.
I think there should be a disestablishment of Church and State. Prince William clearly isn't religious and can't be bothered with it ( or much) so there's no reason why he should be head of State and Head of the C of E when his time comes. If they were separate we could have rules banning all religious practices in State buildings, and probably State schools.

Original poster
Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 07:37

Bubblebathbefore8 · 11/05/2026 07:28

House of Commons starts with prayers. Our school prays daily. Cant see the harm, not everyone has to join in

I've said already I'm an atheist and I don't want religion mixed up with local politics.

A council shouldn't have a little clique of people who exclude others from an activity at the start of a session where they are going to discuss, for example, a contentious planning issue. And yes, praying does exclude people from the group.

It would be illegal in France and should not be being reintroduced here after dying out as a practice, imo.

OP posts:
acourtofmistandfury · 11/05/2026 07:31

Bubblebathbefore8 · 11/05/2026 07:28

House of Commons starts with prayers. Our school prays daily. Cant see the harm, not everyone has to join in

I don’t want it forced down my throat. Whether it’s Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity. I am not religious and do not agree with organised religion in any shape or form.

Original poster
Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 07:29

ProudAmberTurtle · 11/05/2026 07:21

Have you got a link to your threads about how angry you are that councils in places like Birmingham and London broadcast the Adhan (the Muslim call to prayer) - and not just to council staff but publicly via loudspeakers?

I've looked this up and the calls to prayer are being broadcast by Mosques and nothing to do with Council Meetings, in fact nothing even to do with the council except that they are allowing it to continue after it was introduced as an emergency measure during Covid lockdowns.

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Bubblebathbefore8 · 11/05/2026 07:28

House of Commons starts with prayers. Our school prays daily. Cant see the harm, not everyone has to join in

HelpMeGetThrough · 11/05/2026 07:25

Council I worked for always did this.

Original poster
Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 07:25

ProudAmberTurtle · 11/05/2026 07:21

Have you got a link to your threads about how angry you are that councils in places like Birmingham and London broadcast the Adhan (the Muslim call to prayer) - and not just to council staff but publicly via loudspeakers?

Before Council meetings? I didn't know they did. It be just as furious about that. Please link them.

I'm an atheist not an anti Reformist.

OP posts:
Greenwitchart · 11/05/2026 07:21

I live in Kent so unfortunately this is my council. I did not and never would vote Reform.

The council has been useless, put up council tax (after claiming they would not to get elected) and now this nonsense about prayers.

Hopefully people will realise how truly awful and useless Reform is when leading a council and will think again about voting for them at a GE.

ProudAmberTurtle · 11/05/2026 07:21

Have you got a link to your threads about how angry you are that councils in places like Birmingham and London broadcast the Adhan (the Muslim call to prayer) - and not just to council staff but publicly via loudspeakers?

Original poster
Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 07:21

Growingaseed · 11/05/2026 06:55

I made a thread about this yesterday... in case you want to join there. Horrendous.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5527989-reform-kcc-the-lords-prayer

Sorry I didn't see it. I think my title is a bit more catchy than yours 😆

OP posts:
tanktopper · 11/05/2026 07:20

I would vote for any party that would introduce secularism. Religion should be no where near the State, education etc.

gamerchick · 11/05/2026 07:16

Imdunfer · 11/05/2026 06:40

They can't be stopped, but that doesn't mean that they have to do it.

I object strongly. I'm an atheist, I don't want my council (which isn't Kent) bringing religion into Council business.

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Very handmaid's taily.

EnduringEthel · 11/05/2026 07:13

They are simply weaponising religion, they certainly demonstrate christian forgiveness when dealing with their members embroiled in scandal.

Stripeyboats · 11/05/2026 07:11

Gross! Sorry it just makes me shudder. Religion being used to anger and divide people. Again 😭

Spiffingdarling88 · 11/05/2026 07:05

If my councillor wants to pray 5 times a day or start off the meeting with a prayer, I really dont care. Im an atheist and it takes a few minutes.

ChaseTheSin · 11/05/2026 07:04

ProudAmberTurtle · 11/05/2026 06:50

It's just to do with tradition and cohesion isn't it?

Don't many schools start the day with the Lord's Prayer?

No! I’ve worked in schools for over 25 years and not one starts the day with the Lord’s Prayer! 😀

I am also an atheist and would be refusing to join in.