What does it mean to have a more secular House of Commons?

The House of Commons has a more secular character than ever before. Roughly 40 per cent of MPs have chosen to swear in using the secular ‘affirmation’ rather than a religious oath. Only 24 per cent took the secular option at the start of the last parliament. The current secular affirmers include half of the cabinet, and of course the PM.

This is a good thing, in one respect. It is, on the whole, good for democracy if MPs reflect the attitudes of the nation. And it now seems that over half of the nation are non-religious (though all such measures are made of jelly). It’s hard to say whether the new Labour MPs are less religious than their Tory counterparts. Maybe they are a bit more honest, a bit less respectful of tradition. An agnostic Tory might swear the oath because it feels more proper, an agnostic Labour MP might feel that it’s important to be honest about your lack of faith.