Story perspectives

Council Prayer and Anthem Proposal Referred Amid Legal Warning

5/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

The council proposed embedding a prayer and national anthem into meetings.
A Reform UK-led committee voted to refer the prayer and anthem proposals to full council and amend them for broadcast.
Councillor Richard Palmer said the nation is Christian and noted that Green Party leader Mark Hood called the prayer proposal ‘bonkers’ and demanded a secular council.
The council’s monitoring officer warned that livestreaming the prayer would breach legal rules.

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Story summary

The council proposed embedding a prayer and national anthem into meetings.
A Reform UK-led committee voted to refer the prayer and anthem proposals to full council and amend them for broadcast.
Councillor Richard Palmer said the nation is Christian and noted that Green Party leader Mark Hood called the prayer proposal ‘bonkers’ and demanded a secular council.
The council’s monitoring officer warned that livestreaming the prayer would breach legal rules.