Welcoming new MPs

The Gathering is the high-point of the Quaker year when around 1500 Quakers meet for a week of work and worship. They will focus on movement building and living out faith in the world. The MP and also an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate, who are Quakers, have key roles in events traditionally associated with the event.

Catherine West, Labour, who retained her seat in Hornsey and Wood Green, will deliver a lecture on tackling inequality through politics. She will give the 110th Swarthmore Lecture, on Monday 31 July. The lecture is part of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre's learning programme.

Molly Scott Cato (the sitting MEP for the South West) missed being elected for the Greens in Bristol West. On Wednesday 2 August, she will give the Salter Lecture, under the auspices of the Quaker Socialist Society.

Other parliamentary candidates with Quaker connections stood in this general election. They include:

• Ruth Cadbury, Labour, was re-elected for Brentford and Isleworth, with a much increased majority
• Tania Mathias, Conservative, lost her seat in Twickenham.
• Josh Fenton-Glynn narrowly missed gaining Calder Valley for Labour
• Ian Martin did not gain Yeovil for Labour
• Elisabeth Wilson was not elected for Lib Dems in East Lothian

Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, says, "Quakers welcome all those elected and we look forward to engaging with them on issues we are passionate about, like refugees, climate justice, nuclear weapons and economic justice."

Meanwhile Quakers across Britain will welcome new MPs and continue to press them on hot topics they raised at the hustings.

Quaker action will focus on these weeks

UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty 15 June–7 July 2017

Refugee week 19–25 June 2017

Climate week of action 1–9 July 2017

Parliament week 1319 November 2017

Yearly Meeting Gathering runs from 29 July to 5 August at the University of Warwick, in Coventry. Bookings are very welcome.

Everyone is welcome to a Quaker meeting – however you voted