SHOCKWAVES through the Anglo-Saxon alliance. The Texas State Board of Education has voted 9-6 to mandate the teaching of Bible stories in all public elementary schools. Downing Street has reacted with fury. A No. 10 source described the move as a 'direct assault on secular education' and warned of 'long-term damage to liberal values.'
Whitehall is scrambling. The Foreign Office has summoned the US chargé d'affaires. Quiet words are being had with contacts in the State Department. But nobody expects a reversal. This is a culture war fought on American soil with British consequences. Labour MPs are already demanding a debate in the Commons. One frontbencher texted me: 'If this catches on, we'll see it here. The Christian right is global.'
The decision is complex. Texas textbooks already dominate the US market. Now they will include passages from Genesis and Exodus alongside maths and science. Critics call it indoctrination. Supporters say it's cultural literacy. The text of the mandate is precise: 'Classroom instruction shall include the study of the Bible as a foundational text of Western civilisation.'
Downing Street's condemnation is notable. It breaks with the usual diplomatic caution. One insider told me: 'The PM is furious. He sees this as a wedge issue for the next US election and a gift to the evangelical right.' Number 10's strategy is to frame this as an attack on British values. Expect more statements. Possibly a joint letter with other secular-minded allies.
But will it change anything? Unlikely. The board is elected. The governor has already praised the move. And the Supreme Court has consistently deferred to local control of education. The British battle is about perception. Can Starmer outflank the Tories on defending secularism? Some in his team think so. A Labour source said: 'Rishi is too weak to say anything. We'll own this issue.'
The irony is not lost on Westminster. The same government that praised American allies is now distancing itself. Quietly, officials note that British schools already teach religious education. But the Bible mandate goes further. It prescribes content. It is Old Testament as fact not fable.
What happens next? The Texas decision is final. But watch for copycat states. Florida. Alabama. Downing Street knows the genie is out of the bottle. One weary advisor said: 'We can shout all we want. This is a symptom of a deeper trend: the retreat from reason in public life.'
The Lobby is buzzing. This story has legs. It will dominate the Sunday morning rounds. Expect ministers to face tough questions on the UK's own religious curriculum. The Church of England is staying quiet. They do not want to alienate American partners. But Downing Street is clear: this is not a defence of faith. It is a defence of the separation of church and state.
More to follow. I'll be watching the No. 10 briefing at 4pm.
