The Liberal Democrat Party became the first to have within it a Humanist Group, when over forty people crammed into a room meant for twenty-five for a fringe meeting held at the recent party conference in Bournemouth. BHA Vice-President Claire Rayner and trustee David Pollock spoke, and BHA member Mike Quinton, who had convened the meeting, chaired. Mike began by wondering how people could still deplore unbelief when religion lay at the root of so much vicious conflict on every continent.

Claire Rayner, immediate past president of the BHA, was making her first speech "on her feet" since her recent serious illness, but "was determined to speak at the meeting the moment I got the invitation," she said. "The country is full of people who are humanists without knowing it - including many who if pushed still resort to calling themselves Christians," she told the very receptive audience, citing various Lib Dem policies to suggest that "Liberal Democracy and Humanism fit like a glove. "

David Pollock talked of Humanism's commitment to human rights and the open society, one "based on the recognition that people have divergent views and interests and that nobody is in possession of the ultimate truth", as George Soros put it recently. He described the BHA's campaigning work on broadcasting, school transport, equality law and other topics. 'We are effectively using the Human Rights Act to challenge legal discrimination in favour of religion

On education he said that RE "still invariably promotes the idea that religion - any religion - is better than none" but he was hopeful that the new National Framework for RE would improve the situation. But more and more religious schools were opening with strong Government backing - as were "academies" teaching creationism in science lessons. "The Government is packaging up our children and selling them at £2 million a thousand to any businessman or evangelist who wants a captive audience."

After enthusiastic questions and discussion, a dozen or more party members formed a committee for the new Liberal Democrat Humanist Group which will start with at least 70 members. "From the moment I first floated the idea I had wonderful support from the BHA," said Mike Quinton. "Our experience seems to suggest that when an opportunity occurs for people with humanist beliefs to declare themselves and join with others there are far more out there than we might realise. That should be an encouragement to us all to get out there and form more groups where there can be mutual support."