Triumph for secularism at Oxford Union

“This house believes that the ideal state is a secular state”. This was the motion proposed by NSS Executive Director, Keith Porteous Wood, at the Oxford Union last week, which was carried 220 votes for and 170 against. He was supported in his endeavours by Peter Hughes, President of the Oxford Secular Society.

The debate was reported worldwide not because of the NSS’s victory, unfortunately, but because it was also billed as a memorial debate for Benazir Bhutto, who had been president of the Oxford Union 30 years ago – the first Asian woman to hold the post. Also present last week — with MI5 and police protection — was Benazir’s 19-year-old son Bilawal who is studying at Oxford.

Keith was opposed by the bishop of Worcester, John Inge and David Holloway, one of the founders of the Christian Institute and heavily involved in the Vardy Academies in the north-East.

Keith commented: “Our record of success on theological arguments at the OU has been thin; the Christian Unions and other religious groups turn out in force to support their god, and usually swing the vote.”

A fuller report of the debate will appear in the forthcoming NSS Bulletin.

25 January 2008