What will the King's Speech reveal about the Labour government? | Andrew Marr | The New Statesman 

The implication that non-religious people dont have a moral backbone is deeply, deeply offensive, wrong, and stupid. Broadly a good publication and enjoyable videos, but quite a bit of nonsense in this one.

"...it's a perfectly rationale thing to have faith..." No it's not. "Faith" is belief in the absence of proof which is the opposite of logical. It would be more accurate to say there are a multiplicity of faiths in British society, each deserving of respect and acceptance. Montesquieu, in 1721, said: “History is full of religious wars; but, we must take care to observe, it was not the multiplicity of religions that produced these wars, it was the intolerating spirit which animated that one which thought she had the power of governing.”

I don't think it is a perfectly rational thing to have faith. The entire point in faith is that it is belief without proof. That is perfectly fine in its own way and within certain boundaries, but it is not 'perfectly rational.' Especially if you get into having an actual religion instead of just having faith in some higher power. When you get to telling people that there is some higher power that cares exactly about the wording of the Nicene Creed, or whether you make pictures of Mohammad, that is when you have gone far beyond rationality.

I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of religion having any influence on politics. Policy should be based on people not on a 2000 year old Desert comic.

Religion or faith, whatever you wish, being British means we keep it private and so we should.

I really like the talk about christian-socialism. Most of the time when you hear politicians speak about religion, especially christianity, they use it as a shield;"I'm against abortion because i'm a christian," which isn't something that automatically follows. There's a priest in the bible that performs an abortion for instance. Yet those politicians wield that book as a shield, because if you dare to criticise their stance you're "attacking their religion." Christian-socialism reminds people that christians don't have to be right wing because of their religion, they choose those horrid positions all on their own. They could choose to feed the hungry, clothe the naked & house the refugee.

In my opinion, religion has no place in politics. Just one if the many reasons I'm happy that I voted Labour. Better than all of the alternatives to corruption and single issue parties.

I'm a Brit living in Austria. My mate lives in Clacton and voted for Reform. It's now the 20.7 and having seen The Labour Party and their actions. He said he regrets his voting......

In my experience non-religious people are often more morally centered than those from a religious background, it depends greatly on the individual.

A deeply problematic assertion that having a faith is completely rational thing and the other comments here reflect this. Faith has no place in politics beyond the principle that they should all be equal and you should have the freedom to practice it. The exception being that you can congregate together and practice or do so privately, but it should not intrude on other peoples daily lives.

Ever feel like people like this live on a different planet to the rest of us?

That was 80% twaddle about religion. The working class now rule the cabinet and they like common sense and fairness neither of which have anything to do with religion.

"perfectly rational thing to have faith" - NO! faith is fundamentally irrational!!!

The thing is though that a lot of "islamophobia" is just a thin veil for racism towards people from predominantly Muslim countries. I have experienced Islamophobia despite not being Muslim because of my ethnicity

I think Andrew Marr is a national treasure!!!

Religion has no place in politics.

Contempt for faith (all faiths not any one in particular) shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. Faith is illogical, having clergy in the house of lords is abominable. Having religious MPs isn't they're simply a representation of the public.

Why is Andrew Marr so wise? I wish I had half of his clarity of thought.

It is not perfectly rational to have faith / belief in a supreme being. It is completely bonkers.

Starmer's plan is to get in there (done well), consolidate power, be better than the Tories at being Tory; then; leave the door open for more radical changes if the public are up for it.

Did I hear the statement that being religious is a rational choice? It is very much not a rational choice so I’m disappointed in NS for the nature of this debate. You are entitled to your view and opinion but religion in politics is plain wrong.

"It's a perfectly rational thing to have faith?" - Sorry what is that statement based on, what is your definition of rational that you think that statement makes sense.

If you were being evidence-based about policy the question of women's rights and trans rights would not be an issue, given the complete lack of evidence that they are in any way exclusive

Saying that having a belief is rational is incredibly illogical! How can it ever be rational to hold as fact something that must be believed without evidence ?

I could listen to you two all day :)

On the question of faith, the Islamic faith does not hold to the law and values of the UK. This is a truth not a phobia. The danger is that politicians can’t or dare not speak . The Palestine protest in London was not the reflection of every one in the UK. The Poll tax was relevant to lots of UK citizens. The law was rewritten to prevent pol tax demonstrations so, . People went to prison . How then can you expect the British national people to have any faith in politicians? It is time to say that if you live in the UK your faith is a choice obedient to the law of the UK is not a choice it’s a obligation to British way of life. There is nothing racist in the truth. Trying to bring in an Islamic or any other faith into the equation is not acceptable.it’s morally bankrupt. Second point what consenting adults do in their lives is of no concern of others. A persons gender identity is set at birth. To try to change that other than by surgery is up to the individual. That said I have not reason to share someone else’s opinion because I don’t follow their sexual preferences. So to make any law beyond everyone has equal rights to choose their partners if it is legal that’s the law . Everything out side the bed room apparently has to be changed for their convenience. I’m wondering how something so basic causes politicians so mush headache. May be politicians needs to be protected from having to play pass the parcel and get on with doing something ! To have the representative of the UK to leave D Day remembrance. Was a disrespectful disgrace. Political leaders should face consequences in courts and the money making process should mean that the only money they earn is the payment for being an elected official. All of these points are based on being honest . Look up honest in the dictionary.

Only Marr could turn this into a God thing

All religious VALUES have an important place in our society. Fair? But having 'faith' does not always mean being rational. Sorry.

Hang on, who are you to assert that "it's a perfectly rational thing to have faith"?! It's by definition irrational. And there's nothing intrinsically moral about it. People do unspeakable evil in the name of their "faith". What on earth is she talking about?!

'...it's a perfectly rational thing to have faith...' Yeah.... No.

Can we have more of these discussions on ideas and the philosophical foundations of political views.

I don't believe i've ever seen this level of scrutiny, judgement and scepticism of any Government a couple of weeks in. Commentators need to keep talking to justify a paycheck, 10% value 90% guff

I feel I should correct Andrew about swearing on the bible means you have a faith and assuming that affirming means you don’t. It’s completely wrong! Many people do not swear on a bible simply because this is an earthly matter and it’s considered taking God’s name in vain. One example is the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers. We always affirm rather than swear by the bible. So please Andrew, don’t make assumptions not based on facts :-) Thanks

Secularism keeps the calm.

Davos is our North Star , Zero Emissions is one of our vehicles along with no borders ......something like that

If I were God I'd ban religion.

it’ll reveal that he’s just another Crown Corporation apparatchik

Having been watching The Kings speech and am shocked at how many people dressed like father Christmas we have to fund on a daily basis it is such a waste of our yaxes Labourbis rotten for a start igs horrible!

Scientism; Science can tell us about good morals. Collectivist subjectivism / secularism doesn't necessarily imply scientism. Ridiculous dangerous nonsense.

It is not rational to have faith.

The England football team?? I am a keen fan and follower, and I have never thought of them in terms of religion. Roman Catholic players often genuflect as they come onto the pitch, but I have never seen any overt signs of adherence to black evangelical protestant religions, whatever their private faith. Maybe I'd better look harder.

Oh we get more evidence with every speach our king makes, just where his loyal aliegnece is.

I think the king will say most of us were right that labour had no intention in keeping their promises

Religion…groan.😴

Please explain the part about faith that is 'perfectly rational'?

Eh this was just circulated (again!) to users of the New Statesman phone app. Back to the future!

Its perfectly reasonable to believe in fairies - what?

Nope. Give me an atheist any time

Before talk about religion thing better understood what is real minority in British... that migrant have their own country....the words minority already wrong understood...

The fool has said in his heart there is no god

What garbage about religion and importance of religious belief. How can you justify the suggestion that religion is what is responsible for a moral backbone? Shocking nonsense from supposedly educated presenters.

Youth Demand said they will disrupt the opening, look out for that...

Err... it _isn't_ 'a perfectly reasonable thing to have faith', given that faith requires, by definition, belief without, or in the face of, evidence. Unless you have a really novel and bizarre definition for 'reasonable', I guess. It's reasonable _that_ people have faith, given that, for example, they have very, very likely been inculcated in it since they were young in one form or another, but that's a rather important distinction. But actually having faith is a step away from reason and towards something else. Indeed, as regards morality, I would suggest that any morality which is dictated by the whims of an unknown and unknowable being isn't a particularly reasonable place to look for a moral backbone. It's why the greatest ethicists that are also religious never rely on their faith for their arguments.

Oh dear... faith implies a belief in a lack of evidence or proof, hence it's _irrational!_

"Hard climate Science". A contradiction in terms

Its not the issue about climate change, its wether their solutions will leave with reliable energy that is cheap. Industrial energy prices are highest in Europe already, if we want some growth maybe dont smother what industry we have left.

Hard science on climate change!! Do you realy mean computer projections remember science says nothing. , scientists do but if you have a different view defunding and canceling!!!

Sorry, what's your (MP) religion got to do with running a secular country in 2024? The less we talk publicly about religion the better

Not a lot even the Labour government don't know what they are going to do

Before Brexit and DJT election I got odds from a betting agent of 4/1 for brexit and 500/1 for trump becoming president so I had 2000/1 going into my final bet which was to place in the last 16 of the WSOP in Vegas - which I played in its quite a moment to look back now and reflect upon that

Choosing to affirm, not swear isn't a sign of secularism. It could be a sign of people actually practicing their religion according to their own scripture. Christians, for example, should be affirming, not swearing. Jesus said "But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply “Yes,” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." These words are recorded in Matthew 5:34-37, which is part of the bible that any hypocrites in the chamber might swear on.

Baby MPs...

Houses, houses, houses and also millions of onshore windmills 😊

Starmer scares me

Faith is not rational.

I don't want religion anywhere near any of the decisions made in parliament. Keep state and church seperate. But alas, when we have the head of the Church of England as King, and this particular church/religion, is based on the morals of Henry VIII, we haven't got a prayer (Pun intended).

Scientism is not sufficient - we are not all Ikea flat pack people - we think - but we also feel, we have values and beliefs. Scientism tries to technocratically shoehorn us all into the same box - that will never work - as Labour and other elitest technocrats will one day discover, but not until they have caused plenty of suffering and hardship along the way... One example: the "climate" stuff is not approached correctly. Simply because there are changes in rolling 30 year cycles etc, does not mean we should cut off all oil extraction and be taxed to the hilt to find £3trillion to create a load of wind turbines and solar panels over the country which won't provide proper energy independence. There has never been such cultish tosh put about. Oh, and btw - a woman is a woman, and a man is a man - of course I can put on a dress and make-up and pretend - but I'm still a bloke, Kier, Anneliese... it's not that difficult really...

😮‍💨

Second rate channel

The islamophobia laws comment seems extremely out of left field, never once seen labour suggest such a thing so why are we having it as part of the discussion, it's just baseless speculation.

As a soon-to-be Theology graduate, I believe that religions and faith have more influence on humanity and politics than one can ever imagine. This increasing secularism doesn't even dent it as much as it creates a new angle of conversation. Religion is not even supposed to be an object but a study of metaphysics, and a study of the rules of everything...

Hard climate science.?....laughable.

Left wing extremism mainly

Labour's fundamental values? On which day?

People do like when leaders have a belief system but as a European, most people would like this believe system being catholic or something similar (aka not Islam or Jewish)

*Tumbleweed Rolls*