COUNCIL PRAYERS FACE HIGH COURT HEARING

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Council prayers face High Court hearing

A High Court date is expected to be set within weeks whether councils should say prayers before meetings.

The National Secular Society says it is concerned that many local councils start their meetings with Christian prayers.

Papers were lodged at the High Court last year for a judicial review. A hearing date is imminent.

Last month newly-elected city Lord Mayor Rob Wann decided to reintroduce prayers before monthly full council meetings after previous office-holder Colin Hall stopped the practice.

A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: "There is a long tradition of the sitting Lord Mayor choosing whether or not to have prayers at the start of a council meeting and that we see no reason why that should not continue."

A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said: "We're aware of the issues surrounding council prayers and for this reason, lead a short, multi-faith prayer before council meetings which was introduced in 1974."

A secular society spokesman said: "If some council members wish to pray, we think that should be a private matter for themselves and there is no problem with them doing so before council meetings."