Council urged to cut prayers

CITY leaders are being urged to suspend prayers at the start of council meetings and carry out a review of their legality.

The move follows a court ruling in England that the practice was unlawful there.

The National Secular Society has written to all city councillors, suggesting the best solution would be “collective silent contemplation” at the start of the meeting or “the complete cessation of prayer/reflection as a collective corporate activity of the council”.

At the moment, prayers are held in the City Chambers after a bell signals the start of meetings.