Surging UK Green Party pushes church-state split, critics warn of break from Britain’s Christian roots

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LONDON:The left-wing British Green Party has said it wants to separate theChurch of England from the stateif it wins the next general election, which must be held before August 2029.

The Church of England has been the “established” church since the 16th-century Reformation, with the British monarch serving as its supreme governor.For traditionalists, this link is not merely ceremonial but is the foundational bedrock of British identity.

The Greens have come under fire for seeking to remove centuries of British history and tradition by separating the church from British politics, with critics characterizing it as the latest move against Christianity in the U.K.

GB News reportedlast month that the Green Party policy document stated: “No person shall hold office in the state, or be excluded from any such office, by virtue of their or their spouse’s membership or non-membership of any religion or denomination of religion.”

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King Charles standing in ceremonial attire during his coronation.

King Charles ascended the throne in September 2022 following his mother’s death, and his coronation was in May 2023.(Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Michael McManus, the director of research at the Henry Jackson Society, a U.K.�Britain is a tolerant society but with clear Christian origins and culture.Aiming to disestablish the Church of England could be seen as an attempt to reject that ethical foundation without being clear what would replace it instead.”

High-profile figures have also weighed in on the debate, with actor and comedian John Cleese responding to a comment about the Greens’ proposal by stating on X: “The UK has always been based at the deepest level on Christian values, regardless of dogma.Despite the many mistakes made by churches, for centuries British people have been influenced by Christ’s teaching.If these values are replaced by Islamic ones, this will not be Britain anymore.”

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The Greens are a growing political force, placing second behindReform UKin a recent YouGov poll.AnotherYouGov polllinked the Greens’ rise in popularity with younger voters in the country, finding a majority of those between 18 and 24 supported them, while also doing well with women and other groups.

UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski.(Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)

�We will be setting out our detailed plans for government at the time of the next General Election, just as we did at the last General Election.As always, our members will be shaping our priorities. These will again address the real and immediate needs of people and the planet, such as tackling the climate crisis, bringing down the cost of living and rebuilding our public services, including the NHS.Our focus is on the issues that impact ordinary people most.”

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Green Party leader Zack Polanski has defended a secular state.He has also drawn criticism for his support of legalizing drugs such as heroin and cocaine, his climate policies and anti-Israelpositioning.

Christmas morning Eucharist service at Canterbury Cathedral with clergy and congregation

A view of Christmas morning Eucharist service at Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, United Kingdom, on Dec.25, 2022.(Stuart Brock/Anadolu Agency)

The timing of the Green Party’s push is particularly sensitive as it comes on the heels of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026, which passed last month, removing the last hereditary aristocrats from Parliament.With the hereditary principle gone, the presence of the “Lords Spiritual” has become the next logical target for constitutional reformers.There are currently 26 seats reserved forChurch of Englandarchbishops and bishops in the House of Lords.

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As the U.K.heads toward a local 2026 election cycle, the “Church and State” debate looks set to become a wedge issue.For the Greens, it represents their commitment to a “diverse and inclusive” Britain.For their detractors, it is a dangerous move that risks “de-Christianizing” the country at a moment of profound social uncertainty.

Whether the proposal will mobilize a new “religious vote” or simply fade behind the urgency of other issues remains to be seen.What is clear, commentators say, is that the image of the established Church is increasingly being viewed through the lens of a much sharper and more polarizedpolitical fight.

Michael Saunders is a U.K.-based journalist.