Since around 1558, sitting in both Houses starts with prayers, usually read by the Speaker’s chaplain (currently Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkins) in the House of Commons and by one of the Bishops in the House of Lords.
Attendance is voluntary but often MPs will often come in beforehand to place ‘prayer cards’ in front of a particular seat so they can secure it for a spot during a debate later in the day.
On Tuesday though, Conservative MP Crispin Blunt called for the practice of prayers to be abolished by putting down an Early Day Motion claiming that parliamentary prayers are “not compatible with a society which respects the principle of freedom of and from religion”.
On Thursday, the Labour MP for Leicester East, Keith Vaz made suggestions to Crispin Blunt’s motion and in doing so re-wrote it to say exactly the opposite.
The original motion read: “That this House recognises that religious worship should not play any part in the formal business of the House of Commons; believes that parliamentary meetings should be conducted in a manner equally welcoming to all attendees, irrespective of their personal beliefs; further believes that Parliamentary Prayers are not compatible with a society which respects the principle of freedom of and from religion; urges that prayers should not form part of the official business of Parliament; and calls on the Procedure Committee…
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