The High Court today (10 Feb) ruled that "The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under s111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue". The judgement follows a Judicial Review initiated by the National Secular Society.

Mr Justice Ouseley (the Head of the Administrative Court) directed: "I do not think the 1972 Act [...] should be interpreted as permitting the religious views of one group of councillors, however sincere or large in number, to exclude, or even to a modest extent, to impose burdens on or even to mark out those who do not share their views and do not wish to participate in their expression of them. They are all equally elected councillors".

The judgement clearly states that religious freedoms are not hindered, as councillors who wish to do so are free to say prayers before council meetings.

See NSS report. Bideford Town Council has decided not to appeal against the High Court ruling. A number of Councils have now transferred prayers from official business to optional meetings held beforehand.

Clive Bone, the councillor at the centre of the council prayer victory in the High Court, has been awarded the Simon Biber Memorial prize for special achievement by the National Secular Society.