A NEW parliamentary Bill giving councils the option to hold prayers at meetings has been backed by Keighley MP Kris Hopkins.
During the committee stage debate for the Local Government (Religious etc Observances) Bill, he said it was important councils had the freedom to pray if they wished.
"The Bill is about the freedom to make the choice collectively as a local authority to hold prayers or not as part of official business," said Mr Hopkins, the local government minister.
"It's provisions would give small parish councils and other local authorities the freedom to hold town hall prayers and ensure they can without question support activities such as the annual commemoration on Remembrance Day.
"The opportunity to be respectful of somebody else's faith in the moment before a council meeting is a great opportunity to build cohesion."
Religious observance at council meetings was ruled unlawful by the High Court in 2012 after a successful challenge by the National Secular Society.
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