Channel migrants - remove regardless
PM Richard Sunak has made ‘stopping the boats’ one of his top priorities, saying, ‘Make no mistake if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay.’ He wants Channel migrants removed from the UK, banned from future re-entry and unable to apply for British citizenship under proposed new legislation. These tactical measures will apply to anyone arriving on UK shores in a small boat. The Refugee Council has criticised the plans and says that thousands of people will be left ‘permanently in limbo’ as a result. There are many reasons for seeking asylum in the UK. One of the main reasons, recognised in the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, is Religious Persecution. Across the world today there is considerable religious persecution, mostly targeting Christians, so it is no surprise that Christians claim asylum in the UK on that basis. See However Christian persecution rarely makes the news.
More religious studies teachers needed
A new campaign has been launched to encourage more people to become religious studies (RS) teachers as the number of people applying to teach RS is down by a third compared to last year. Now, parliamentarians have joined religious groups in their plea for more applicants. The new campaign, ‘Beyond the Ordinary,’ aims to draw attention to the positives of the role. In the last decade, the Department for Education has missed their annual recruitment targets for the subject nine times. Yet despite concerns about the number of teaching staff, the subject is growing in popularity. Around 30% more students are taking the subject at GCSE level, compared to a decade ago. Politicians are united in the belief that religious education is fundamental to ‘life in modern Britain,’ yet the figures are ‘deeply worrying’ and young people are ‘missing out’.
Girl Guides drops 'God' from campfire songs
Former DUP leader Arlene Foster has expressed ‘sadness’ that the Girl Guides organisation is to omit reference to God in campfire songs enjoyed by generations of girls. Girl Guides said the tradition of singing songs could have ‘references that have been hurtful to people’ and suggested groups could make changes ‘so everyone can join in’. The original version of Brownie Bells stated ‘Oh Lord, our God; Thy children call; Grant us thy peace; And bless us all; Goodnight.’ The altered version reads ‘Time for the end; our meeting’s past; Brownies is great; time flies so fast; Goodnight.’ A Christian Institute member said, ‘The Girl Guides and Scouts should remember that their founders, Robert Baden-Powell and his sister Agnes, were motivated by their faith. Erasing our traditions does not promote inclusion or diversity. Quite the opposite. I hope they reconsider this decision.’
Northern Ireland: Threat to police
Linzi McLaren, who served in the Police Service of Northern Ireland for 18 years, said a dissident republican threat against relatives of Northern Ireland police could deter new recruits and was a new low that could lead to resignations. She also said that this threat will affect the very junior in service or those at the end of their career. Officers will now have to reassess their own personal security. ‘As police officers you're always very conscious of the threat towards you personally, and conscious of what has happened in the past,’ she told BBC Radio Ulster. ‘You never expect that something as personal as danger to your loved ones would be a consequence of your decision of being a police officer.’
