MPs move to make Freedom of Religion or Belief envoy a permanent role
from Religion Media Centre:
MPs have taken a further step towards placing the role of the Prime Minister’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief on a statutory footing, rather than keep it as an appointment at the discretion of the prime minister.
The present post holder, Fiona Bruce MP, put forward the proposal in a private members’ bill in the Commons on Friday. She said that freedom of religion or belief was not “niche”, as hundreds of millions of men, women and children around the world suffer persecution and discrimination, citing statistics that one Christian is killed every two hours for their faith.
Labour’s spokesperson Catherine West MP, backed the bill and said Labour would promote freedom of religion or belief as a key component of foreign policy. But it was important not to put rights in a hierarchy as against for example, women’s reproductive rights and protecting the LGBT+ community.
Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell backed the bill which now moves to the next stage through parliament.
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