Soldiers told to avoid Christian 'elements' in Acts of Remembrance

Army has told soldiers to avoid 'religious elements' in Acts of Remembrance on Armistice Day.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is said to be furious’ about the policy.

It is part of a push across the Armed Forces to encourage diversity and inclusion.

Government data shows ethnic minorities make up 10.6% of UK Regular Forces .

The Army advises personnel to introduce their pronouns in email signatures to be inclusive of people who may not conform to gender stereotypes, transgender and non-binary colleagues’ The Royal Air Force transitioned to the use of “gender-neutral ranks and language” in December 2021 .

The RAF ’s Gender Network , a group for aviators to discuss gender, published a blog on the MoD intranet for “International Pronouns Day ’ in October 2023 .

The Army ’s Inclusive Behaviours policy states that units must have at least one Diversity and Inclusion Practitioner.

Unit Commanding Officers are tasked with appointing diversity advisors and providing diversity boards, training, reviews, inspections and assessments to report on the “lived experience of personnel in their unit” Posters promoting diversity and inclusion are commonplace across the sites used by all three forces.