Labour has come under fire for cutting £20 million in tax relief for churches, leaving 1,000 historic places of worship at risk of closure, while allocating a staggering £117 million to protect mosques.
The move, branded a “worship tax” by critics, comes at a time when churches across the UK are also facing a surge in arson attacks.
The Government’s decision to halve the tax relief available for church repairs has sparked anger among campaigners, who warn that without urgent funding, many historic buildings will fall into disrepair and face permanent closure. A report estimates that nearly 1,000 churches are in immediate danger, leaving communities devastated.
Meanwhile, the Home Office, under the leadership of Yvette Cooper, announced on 4 August 2024 that mosques will receive rapid emergency security funding, with more than £117 million allocated to bolster protection measures for Islamic institutions.
Former Brexit Party MEP and Talk TV presenter Alex Phillips weighed in on the controversy, stating: “Labour is cutting £20 million of tax relief from churches, with 1,000 now at risk of closure, but are giving £117 million to protect mosques. Meanwhile, 150 churches have been burnt down in arson attacks by people in balaclavas. Starmer may as well just stick a minaret on Number Ten and introduce The Jizya at the next budget.”
Critics argue that the disparity in funding priorities reflects a concerning bias and a disregard for the UK’s Christian heritage. Concerned parishioners and heritage groups are now calling on Labour to reverse the funding cuts and protect the nation’s churches before it is too late.
Data from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical reveals that over 150 churches have also been targeted by arsonists in the last five years, causing millions of pounds worth of damage to Britain’s architectural heritage.
One of the victims is Pitsmoor Christ Church in Sheffield, which was seriously damaged in a fire, now being investigated as arson by South Yorkshire Police. Churches are being urged to step up security measures, as incidents are known to spike during summer months. According to the insurer, London, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Essex have been the worst-hit areas.
With the backlash growing, questions are mounting over why historic churches are being left to crumble while significant taxpayer money is being directed towards the protection of other religious institutions.
Stay tuned for updates as the controversy unfolds.
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Wasn’t this funding agreed by the last administration, this was on GB News earlier this week, worth checking.