Is politics becoming more religious? With Tom Holland & Jonathan Sumption
About this episode
The episode discusses the increasing role of religion in British politics with insights from various guests.
Is British politics becoming more religious? Madeline Grant certainly thinks so, arguing – in the Spectator ’s cover article – that the next election could be the most religious for decades. Issues like immigration and Islam, assisted dying – and even the establishment of the Church of England are likely to play a role. The current Labour government's ‘most telling divide’, Madeline writes, is between MPs – like Shabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting – who understand religion – and 'those who don’t’. For the Edition ’s Easter special, host Lara Prendergast is joined by vicar – and Madeline’s husband – The Rev’d Fergus Butler-Gallie, former Supreme Court justice Jonathan Sumption and the historian and broadcaster Tom Holland. They discuss why faith might be re-emerging as a live political issue: from searching for meaning in modern life, to a reaction against an ‘anaemic form of post-Christianity’ that has dominated since the 1960s. They also ponder whether the public has always sought out authority, and a moral code, and if the current, insurgent political parties – the Greens and Reform – have understood this, embracing a ‘moral energy’ which…
People in this episode
Host: Lara Prendergast
Guests: The Rev’d Fergus Butler-Gallie, Jonathan Sumption, Tom Holland
Topics covered
- religion in politics
- British politics
- immigration
- Islam
- Church of England
- moral authority
- political parties
Keywords
- religion
- politics
- British elections
- Church of England
- moral energy
- immigration
- Islam
- post-Christianity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Church of England, Labour, Greens, Reform, Spectator
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