'Legal threat' over Thought for the Day

Barbara Smoker says the BBC is breaching her human rights

A leading campaigner for the rights of atheists has threatened legal action against the BBC in a dispute over the Thought for the Day, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Barbara Smoker, former president of the National Secular Society, said the ban on non-religious contributions amounts to a breach of human rights.

Her lawyers have written to the BBC's board of governors asking the corporation to justify the ban - or face a legal challenge.

It is the latest move in a campaign involving the British Humanist Association, the National Secular Society and the Rationalist Press Association.

It is discrimination on the grounds of religious belief

Barbara Smoker

More than 100 leading figures signed a letter earlier this year urging the BBC to allow non-religious contributors to speak in the Radio 4 slot.

Ms Smoker, 79, put her case when she appeared on the Today programme on Monday.

She told interviewer James Naughtie: "It is discrimination on the grounds of religious belief.

"Atheists, agnostics and secular humanists represent more than 30% of the population and yet we are not allowed to speak on these issues. But we have just as valid a view."

Prof Dawkins became the first atheist to deliver a Thought for the Day

A BBC spokesman said he could not comment on the contents of Ms Smoker's lawyers' letter as it was private correspondence.

Speaking about the dispute, he said: "Thought for the Day provides an opportunity to reflect on current affairs from a perspective of religious faith.

"As such it is inappropriate to include non-religious contributions."

In August, Oxford University scientist Professor Richard Dawkins became the first atheist to deliver an alternative, unofficial Thought for the Day.

In his two-and-a-half minute slot, Professor Dawkins argued that science gave a better explanation of life than religion.

However, his broadcast did not replace the regular slot but ran an hour afterwards.