Quaker concerns

We regularly speak out on behalf of Quakers in Britain. This page contains the most recent letters, briefings and submissions. If there's a particular document you're interested in that doesn't appear on this page, please email politics@quaker.org.uk.

If you're interested in finding out more about how we engage with politicians and how we can support you to speak out, please also visit Political engagement.

Briefings

• Quaker Briefing for Peers on Economic Activity of Public Bodies Bill - Committee Stage, April 2024 (PDF)
• Quaker briefing for Peers on Economic Activity of Public Bodies Bill, February 2024 (Word)
• Quaker briefing for MPs on IPP sentences, April 2023 (Word)

We are engaging with parliamentarians about truth and integrity in public life

• Quaker briefing for MPs ahead of debate on Seven Principles of Public Life, September 2022 (Word)

As part of the Make COP Count coalition of faith groups and the Make Polluters Pay campaign, we are engaging with the government and parliamentarians about climate justice.

• Quakers and Oxfam briefing for parliamentarians on loss and damage at COP27, November 2022 (PDF)

Quaker Concern for the Abolition of Torture (Q-CAT) holds the concern against torture on behalf of the Yearly Meeting. They are campaigning against the Northern Ireland Legacy (Truth and Reconciliation) Bill (NILTRB).

• Quaker briefing for parliamentarians on the NILTRB, July 2022 (Word)

Letters and statements

We often send letters to government ministers and departments, and sign joint letters with other faith groups and charities. Here are some of our most recent open letters and statements:

• 37 organisations call for urgent clarity from Foreign Secretary on genocide and the UK's international obligations (PDF) 5 November 2024
• UK charities outline key steps the UK Government must take in its first 100 days to address the catastrophe in Gaza, in light of potential genocide (PDF)
• Open letter to Barclays Bank May 2024
• Joint NGO statement on Rafah incursion May 2024
• Joint Quaker statement on peace and justice in Palestine and Israel April 2024 (offsite link)
• Open letter 'UK must stop selling arms to Israel' on Oxfam GB's website April 2024 - please sign
• Global Christian Leaders Call for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire, March 2024 (offsite link)
• Open letter to Tokio Marine on fossil fuels, February 2024 (PDF)
• Open letter to Hiscox on fossil fuels, February 2024 (PDF)
• Open letter to AIG on fossil fuels, February 2024 (PDF)
• Quakers in Britain and other faith groups' letter to Bishops in the House of Lords urging them to vote against the anti-boycott bill 14 February 2024 (PDF)
• Quakers in Britain condemn UK and US airstrikes in Yemen and call for peaceful and just solutions to conflict in the Middle East 17 January 2024 (PDF)
• Joint statement on the urgent need to tackle poverty 5 January 2024
• Joint letter to Foreign Secretary on supply of armaments to Israel 8 December 2023 (PDF)
• Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) letter template for Friends to use (Word)
• Letter to Russian and Ukrainian embassies re. right to conscientious objection 6 December 2023 (PDF)
• Global Christian Leaders' letter to the Prime Minister calling for a bilateral ceasefire in Palestine and Israel 30 November 2023 [PDF]
• Joint Interfaith Statement to the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, November 2023
• Joint civil society statement on the passage of the Illegal Migration Act, July 2023 (PDF)
• Joint statement on Palestinian dignity, May 2023 (PDF)
• Letter to Lloyds of London, April 2023 (PDF)
• Letter to Lloyds of London, February 2023 (PDF)
• Joint faith and belief leaders' letter to Rishi Sunak on integrity, November 2022 (PDF)
• Quakers in Britain open letter to Prime Minister, October 2022 (PDF)Quakers in Britain open letter to Prime Minister, September 2022 (PDF)
  
• Faith and belief joint letter to MPs regarding Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, February 2022 (PDF)

Submissions

We have recently made the following submissions to government and parliamentary inquiries:

• Quaker response to Labour Policy Forum consultation March 2023 (PDF)
• Quakers' submission to Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into Nationality and Borders Bill (PDF)
• Quakers in Britain Response to consultation on Human Rights Act reform, March, 2022 (Word)
• Joint submission to PACAC inquiry on the Lobbying Act, September 2022 (Word)