A year ago, an episode reminiscent of America's polarised "culture wars" unfolded in a leafy central London square as hundreds of pro-choice and anti-abortion protesters confronted one another outside an abortion clinic.

Months before, a parliamentary bid to stop abortion providers from giving NHS-funded counselling to women failed, but resulted in the government establishing an all-party group to consider ways of incorporating the "spirit" of the proposals into law. To pro-choice activists and others, Britain's abortion laws were facing their greatest challenge for decades – one perceived to be emanating to a large extent from a socially conservative, religiously motivated movement.

But is there a "religious right" emerging in Britain? It is an interesting question, and one which the public theology thinktank Theos has attempted to answer in a report published today.

Its verdict? The case for the existence of a religious right appears superficially strong amid evidence of greater co-ordination among Christian groups with a strong socially conservative commitment on issues including sexuality, marriage and religious freedom.

Ben Quinn | To read this article in full, please see www.guardian.co.uk