Ending the daily practice of saying prayers in the House of Commons chamber would improve the image of MPs among the public and save time, it was claimed yesterday.
Tory Jo Johnson, brother of London Mayor Boris, said “institutionalised worship” was not “a good use of everyone’s time”.
The “rather controversial” change reflected the fact that Britain was not an “overwhelmingly Christian country anymore” he told MPs.
Mr Johnson (Orpington) said: “I don’t think institutionalised worship in the main chamber is a good use of everyone’s time.”
He was referring to the practice of saying prayers in the Commons before the day’s business begins.
Prayers are usually led by the Speaker’s Chaplain and take about three or four minutes. The public and the press are not allowed in the galleries until prayers are over.
During a Westminster Hall debate on parliamentary reform Mr Johnson said: “There is one proposal which if adopted has the potential to not only save time but also to improve the image that we project not only internally but externally.
“It is rather controversial and that is I think we can save three or four minutes every day by not having prayers in the main chamber.
“If we want to have prayers let’s shift them into Westminster Hall.”
He went on: “There are reasons why we should make this move, first of all I think it is important that Parliament reflects the country as it is today.
“It is increasingly not a monotheistic country, we are not an overwhelmingly Christian country anymore.”
Tory Peter Bone (Wellingborough) said it was a “hopeless point”, adding: “Isn’t it right that recent polls said 75 per cent of British people said they thought they were Christians?”
Mr Johnson replied: “That is as maybe but institutionalised prayer and congregational worship has fallen out of practice in the last century. “I am not against going to church... but it is something that MPs should be encouraged to do in their own time.”
The prayers follow the Christian faith and there is currently no multi-faith element.
The practice is believed to have started in about 1558, and was common by 1567. The present form of prayers probably dates from the reign of Charles II.
The form of the main prayer in the Commons is as follows: “Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit.”
May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind, so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed. Amen.”