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UK scales back policing of social media posts
Greg Palkot, Fox News’ senior foreign affairs correspondent, covers the U.K. Home Office’s recent decision to shift its focus from monitoring certain social media posts to addressing more traditional crime, as reported on ‘America Reports.’
LONDON: The British Green Party, known for its progressive stance, has announced its intention to sever the ties between the Church of England and the state if it emerges victorious in the next general election, scheduled to occur before August 2029.
Since the Reformation in the 16th century, the Church of England has held the status of the “established” church, with the British monarch acting as its supreme governor. For many traditionalists, this connection is seen as a cornerstone of British cultural identity, extending beyond mere formality.
The Green Party has faced criticism for its proposal to disentangle the church from state affairs, with detractors arguing that it undermines centuries-old history and tradition, framing it as another step away from Christianity within the U.K.
According to a report from GB News last month, the Green Party’s policy document declares: “No person shall hold office in the state, or be excluded from any such office, based on their or their spouse’s membership or non-membership of any religion or religious denomination.”
King Charles ascended the throne in September 2022 following his mother’s death, and his coronation was in May 2023. (Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Michael McManus, the director of research at the Henry Jackson Society, a U.K. think tank, told Fox News Digital, “Britain is a tolerant society but with clear Christian origins and culture. Aiming to disestablish the Church of England could be seen as an attempt to reject that ethical foundation without being clear what would replace it instead.”
High-profile figures have also weighed in on the debate, with actor and comedian John Cleese responding to a comment about the Greens’ proposal by stating on X: “The UK has always been based at the deepest level on Christian values, regardless of dogma. Despite the many mistakes made by churches, for centuries British people have been influenced by Christ’s teaching. If these values are replaced by Islamic ones, this will not be Britain anymore.”
The Greens are a growing political force, placing second behind Reform UK in a recent YouGov poll. Another YouGov poll linked the Greens’ rise in popularity with younger voters in the country, finding a majority of those between 18 and 24 supported them, while also doing well with women and other groups.
UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski. (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
A spokesperson for the Green Party told Fox News Digital, “We will be setting out our detailed plans for government at the time of the next General Election, just as we did at the last General Election. As always, our members will be shaping our priorities. These will again address the real and immediate needs of people and the planet, such as tackling the climate crisis, bringing down the cost of living and rebuilding our public services, including the NHS. Our focus is on the issues that impact ordinary people most.”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has defended a secular state. He has also drawn criticism for his support of legalizing drugs such as heroin and cocaine, his climate policies and anti-Israel positioning.
A view of Christmas morning Eucharist service at Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, United Kingdom, on Dec. 25, 2022. (Stuart Brock/Anadolu Agency)
The timing of the Green Party’s push is particularly sensitive as it comes on the heels of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026, which passed last month, removing the last hereditary aristocrats from Parliament. With the hereditary principle gone, the presence of the “Lords Spiritual” has become the next logical target for constitutional reformers. There are currently 26 seats reserved for Church of England archbishops and bishops in the House of Lords.
As the U.K. heads toward a local 2026 election cycle, the “Church and State” debate looks set to become a wedge issue. For the Greens, it represents their commitment to a “diverse and inclusive” Britain. For their detractors, it is a dangerous move that risks “de-Christianizing” the country at a moment of profound social uncertainty.
Whether the proposal will mobilize a new “religious vote” or simply fade behind the urgency of other issues remains to be seen. What is clear, commentators say, is that the image of the established Church is increasingly being viewed through the lens of a much sharper and more polarized political fight.