All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group
All-Party Groups within United Kingdom politics are informal, cross-party, interest groups of the UK Parliament. APGs have at least 20 members who are all Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group is a subject group of the APG whose purpose is to bring together non-religious humanist, atheist and agnostic MPs and peers to discuss matters of shared interest.
History
The APPHG first took shape in the mid-late 1960s. In 1968, its earliest members were Leo Abse, Austen Albu, Bessie Braddock, James Dickens, Edward Fletcher, Michael Foot, William Hamling, John Horner, Peter Jackson, Lena Jeger, Hugh Jenkins, David Kerr, Ian Mikardo, Maurice Miller, Stan Newens, Reginald Paget, Arthur Palmer, John Parker, Renee Short, Brian Walden, Lord (Fenner) Brockway, Lord Chorley, Lord Francis-Williams, Lord Listowel, Lord Raglan, Lord Ritchie-Calder, and Lord Willis.The group's membership was heavily involved in several successful progressive campaigns of the 1960s, which culminated in the decriminalisation of homosexuality and abortion.
By 1996 it had 47 members. From the 2010s to present, it has had over 100. Although the Group is not part of, nor affiliated to, Humanists UK, the organisation does provide the secretariat.
Topics discussed
The Group meets around 4 times a year to hear speakers and discuss relevant issues, as well as to share information and receive briefings on matters of interest. These matters are wide-ranging and include the promotion of a rational approach to bioethical, medical, and scientific issues, the defence of free speech, civil liberties and education.Officers and members
Since July 2024, the officers of the APPHG have been Chair Rachel Hopkins MP, Vice Chairs Baroness Burt and Sian Berry, and Secretary Kieran Mullan MP.The total membership of the group exceeds 100. Former members and officers have included Michael Connarty, Julian Huppert, Ian Swales, Colin Challen, Crispin Blunt, Lynne Jones, Evan Harris, Paul Holmes, Sandra Gidley, Tommy Sheppard, Joan Bakewell, Aaron Bell, Clive Lewis, Ruth Cadbury, Jeff Smith MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, Lord Warner of Brockley, Lord Taverne of Pimlico, Baroness Massey of Darwen, Baroness Flather of Windsor and Maidenhead, Lord Dubs of Battersea, William Goodhart, Joel Joffe, and Rhodri Morgan, later First Minister of Wales.