Bishop of Leicester emphasises importance of trust in communities during debate on threats to democratic institutions

The Bishop of Leicester spoke in a debate on threats to democratic institutions in the UK on 25th June 2026, stressing the importance of local communities and pluralism in combatting extremist rhetoric:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I too am hugely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, for securing this debate, and it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Falkner. Our belief systems may differ, but we share much in common still.

I speak as chair of a new Church of England working group on promoting unity in our nation, a role that has made me think hard about the three threats before us today and what they mean for our common life, indeed for the Church and for other faith groups. I believe that the three threats that the noble Lord has highlighted—our susceptibility to disinformation, foreign interference and falling trust in our democratic institutions—share a primary underlying cause: the slow loss of the institutions in which people once learned to trust one another and act together.

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Bishop of Leicester speaks in debate on Places of Worship Renewal Fund

The Bishop of Leicester spoke in a debate on the Places of Worship Renewal Fund on 25th June 2026, highlighting several shortcomings in the new fund and urging the government to look at long term planning for support of this kind of funding:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Prentis, for securing this debate and, indeed, for her wider service to the Church. I congratulate her daughter and son-in-law as well. I thank the many thousands of people across our country who play a part in caring for our wonderful churches and churchyards.

My fellow Lords spiritual regret that they are not able to join this debate; many are with their candidates for ordination services taking place this weekend. I know, however, that they share my support for the places of worship renewal fund and the recognition from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport that places of worship are

“part of who we are as a nation”.

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Bishop of Manchester calls for scientific trials to take precedence over culture wars over puberty blockers

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the importance of scientific trials to produce evidence-based results on the use of puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria on 25th June 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: Would the Minister agree that the scientific trials are the best way to try to remove this from the culture wars that are so damning this particular topic?

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House of Lords: Clergy Conduct Measure

On 24th June, the Bishop of Manchester moved a motion to direct that the Clergy Conduct Measure be presented to His Majesty the King for Royal Assent. The motion passed:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Clergy Conduct Measure be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab, Chief Whip): My Lords, I have it in command from His Majesty the King to acquaint the House that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Clergy Conduct Measure, has consented to place his interest, as far as affected by the Measure, at the disposal of Parliament for the purpose of the Measure.

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, the Clergy Conduct Measure is a vital part of the Church of England’s ongoing reform of clergy discipline and safeguarding. During the passage of this Measure through the General Synod, the Church has acknowledged that the current clergy discipline system does not always serve complainants well. Too often, they have found the process opaque and painfully slow. Equally, it has not served clergy well, leaving many in a state of prolonged anxiety and limbo, worried they will lose house and job.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about reoffending rates

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 24th June 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government how many prisoners in England and Wales received “two strike” sentences between 21 March 1997 and 4 April 2005; and how many of that number have (1) never been released, or (2) been recalled to prison following release.

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House of Commons: Clergy Conduct Measure

On 23rd June 2026, the Clergy Conduct Measure was debated by the Delegated Legislation Committee in the House of Commons and passed through the House:

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea) [Second Church Estates Commissioner]: I beg to move,

That the Committee has considered the Clergy Conduct Measure (HC 221).

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairwomanship, Ms Lewell. I know that for many colleagues across the House the prospect of being on a Delegated Legislation Committee considering Church of England legislation is not the true highlight of their parliamentary week—and in this weather; I am so sorry. However, while our setting today might be routine, the legislation before us is anything but. The Measure is a cornerstone of the Church of England’s ongoing vital reform of clergy discipline and safeguarding.

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Palestinian Christians, Disability, Cost of Living, Roman Catholic Church, Community Relations

Christianity: Palestine

Adam Jogee MP (Lab, Newcastle-under Lyme): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Church of England has taken to help support Christians living in Palestine.

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): The Church of England and the Anglican Communion continue to support the ministry of the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Diocese of Jerusalem alongside the Anglican Mission agencies operating in the region who largely provide healthcare and education to all living in the local communities in the West Bank and Gaza. The Archbishop of Canterbury is currently on a pilgrimage to the region, where she is learning and witnessing the work of these agencies

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Financial Services and Markets Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks in committee

The Bishop of Manchester spoke at the first committee debate for the Financial Services and Markets Bill on 22nd June 2022, stressing the importance of face-to-face banking and financial services:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, it is a great honour to follow the noble Baroness., Lady Tyler. As I listened to her speech, I was crossing off most of the things that I was going to say, because she said them much more eloquently than I could have, and I am thankful for that. We need to be able to provide everybody with the best possible services, locally available. As the noble Baroness said, when people are at their most vulnerable, at the most crucial moments of their lives and taking the big decisions, being face to face makes all the difference.

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Bishop of Manchester asks about importance of local care arrangements for vulnerable children and young people

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the importance of kinship care and young people in care remaining close to their extended families during a discussion on the grooming gangs enquiry on 22nd June 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, does the Minister agree that some of the most vulnerable young people are those who are in care. Too often, we see young people put in care homes many hundreds of miles away from where their kinship relationships are, making them even more vulnerable. Will the Minster say what can be done to stop the practice of young people being moved to the poorest parts of the country, to the cheapest care homes, where they are made the most vulnerable of all?

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Bishop of Leicester asks about combatting AI deepfakes

The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on common standards on content provenance to prevent AI generated deepfakes on 23rd June 2026, during a discussion on global governance of artificial intelligence:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, a deepfake or AI-generated social media post manufactured in one country can inflame communities in another country within hours. Ahead of the UN global dialogue in Geneva next month, can the Minister give us a reassurance that the Government are pressing international partners for common standards on content provenance and authentication, so that citizens can tell what is real from what is synthetic and deliberately sown to divide communities?

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