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Author Archives: stewculbard
A chance for change
This article is being written on the day of the national election in the UK. As this day has approached, there has been an abundance of letters, emails, podcasts, documentaries, news specials, interviews, etc., on the possibilities extant in this … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged change, elections, governance, integrity, keir-starmer, Labour Party, Open Britain, politics, rishi-sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, SNP, tenacity, uk-politics
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That was the year that was – Part One
Prelude: The end of one year and the beginning of another is often the opportunity to look back across the year that has gone and to reflect on its events, both personal and otherwise. Such reflection can then become a … Continue reading
What to do with the royals?
Later this month (November 2023) the National Secular Society (NSS) will hold its annual Member’s Day and AGM. This year, the guest speaker at the Member’s Day will be Graham Smith, the CEO of the British Republican Movement (Republic). The … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged acquiescent political class, activist, anachronistic, archaic practices, campaigns, deferential media, divisive, esoteric ritual, established church, expensive, fairy tale image-makers, family unsuitability, Graham Smith, inequality, interference, monarchy, National Secular Society, Republic, self-recommendation, unelected
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At the sharp end
In 1955, when I was a boy aged 10 years, my parents decided to remove the family from Cardiff, South Wales, to Melbourne, Australia. We sailed from Liverpool on May 15, and for the next four weeks we tolerated life … Continue reading
Conflicts of Interest
It has been suspected for a long time, but to the knowledge of this writer very little and not too substantial forensic-style investigation into the matter has been done. I refer to the issue of the shareholdings that British MPs … Continue reading
A farce by any other name
In the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a peasant asks Arthur how he became king. Arthur replies: “The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged accountability, British Republican Movement, Church of England, coronation, equality, farcical event, head of state, minority denomination, monarchist, Monty Python, multi-faith, National Secular Society, Newsline, privilege, republican, system of government
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Separate in form and function
In my previous article, I made a case for the disestablishment of the Church of England as the state church of the UK. Relevant to this subject, it is anticipated that The National Secular Society (NSS) will hold an online … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged authoritarianism, blasphemy laws, Disestablishment, equality, free speech, human rights, legislation, liberal ideals, misinformation, National Secular Society, reforms, religious fundamentalism, repression, secular state, secularism, theocracies, tolerance
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The time has come
The time between Christmas and the dawn of a new year, is an opportune time to reflect on the year that has nearly ended. As a member of the National Secular Society (NSS), I am aware that secularists are sometimes … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2022 Census, Anglican bishops, Christian religion, Christmas, church, Church of England, disestablisment of the CofE, festival, head of state, historical churches, House of Lords, inclusion, National Secular Society, New Year, non-Christian religions, political settlement, population decline, religious education, religious privileges, secular public policy, secular reformation, State, unwritten British Constitution
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In the service of others
There has been talk in political circles recently about what level of remuneration Members of Parliament should receive when their time in office ceases. In particular, the discussion has focused on whether the outgoing leader of the Conservative Party and, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged expenses, government, idealism, parliamentary democracy, politics, representation, service, slaries, social background, the people, vocation
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Robert Stewart Culbard 