Pickles blasts prayers ban ruling - 'worship is hard-fought British liberty'

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Local Government

Communities secretary Eric Pickles says he is "surprised" and "disappointed" at a High Court decision which has ruled that having prayers on council meeting agendas is "unlawful".

Pickles made his comments today after a test case bid to outlaw prayers before local council meetings was won by the National Secular Society and an atheist councillor, Clive Bone.

Mr Pickles said: "While welcoming and respecting fellow British citizens who belong to other faiths, we are a Christian country, with an established Church in England, governed by the Queen.

"Christianity plays an important part in the culture, heritage and fabric of our nation. Public authorities - be it Parliament or a parish council - should have the right to say prayers before meetings if they wish.

"The right to worship is a fundamental and hard-fought British liberty.

"The Localism Act now gives councils a general power of competence - which allows them to undertake any general action that an individual could do unless it is specifically prohibited by law. Logically, this includes prayers before meetings."