Bills – The Church of England in Parliament

Representation of the People Bill: Bishop of Hereford raises threat of AI deepfakes

The Bishop of Hereford also spoke at the second reading of the Representation of the People Bill on 14th September 2026, raising the issue of technological deepfakes being used to undermine the democratic process:

The Lord Bishop of Hereford: My Lords, I join a number of noble Lords who have raised the issue of deepfakes in electoral campaigning. I am pleased to be supported in this by my right reverend friend the Bishop of Leicester, who is, unfortunately, unable to be here today. It is regrettable that the Bill does not address the growing challenge to our democracy posed by deepfakes. Democracy depends not only upon the integrity of our electoral processes but upon the integrity of the information environment in which those processes operate, as the noble Lord, Lord Sahota, powerfully reminded us. Voters must be able to know when political content has been generated or materially altered by artificial intelligence. Without that assurance, it becomes harder for citizens to distinguish truth from fabrication, and easier for bad actors to manipulate democratic debate.

Deepfakes pose a distinct challenge to our democracy because they erode the trust on which democratic life depends. They diminish confidence in what voters see and hear, weakening our shared basis for public deliberative discourse. Ofcom research from 2024 found that 57% of respondents were concerned about the impact of deepfakes during the general election; almost half reported that they did not know if they had seen one in the previous week, and a quarter reported that they had.

Representation of the People Bill: Bishop of Lichfield makes final speech in the Lords

The Bishop of Lichfield gave his valedictory speech at the second reading of the Representation of the People Bill on 14th September 2026, on the role of the Church in civic engagement and the contributions of faith communities to democracy:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, this is an important and timely debate, as any opportunity to re-establish trust in politics is one that we must embrace eagerly. We are sadly familiar with the phrase, “A plague on both your houses”, used in a political context. The word “both” may be rather out of date, but the sentiment expressed encapsulates the frustration that many voters feel with the entire political system, thus overlooking many principled, honest and hard-working MPs, Peers and their staff.

I will mention two points in particular. First, in my visits to prisons, I meet many men with time to think and to think deeply. Most people come to serve their sentence in prison only after a string of failures: personal failures and the failures of services, systems and institutions, including the Church. To have that direct and painful experience of system failure and yet, through disenfranchisement, to have no means to participate in efforts for their correction or renewal, can further erode any sense of civic engagement and belonging. I hope that this House will consider whether votes might be extended to at least some convicted prisoners as one dimension of the penal journey to rehabilitation.

Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (Restoration of Powers and Responsibilities) Bill: Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich speaks at second reading

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich spoke at the second reading of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (Restoration of Powers and Responsibilities) Bill on 11th September 2026, requesting clarification on how the principles of restorative justice would be integrated into youth criminal justice:

The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich: My Lords, I was encouraged by the Government’s White Paper on youth crime, which highlighted the relationship between complex needs and the experiences of youth justice. However, the increasing prevalence of such needs underscores the necessity of retaining the specialist expertise of the Youth Justice Board.

In my own diocese, I have seen how those needs can draw children into crime; for example, through county lines. Many young people who come into contact with these networks are not simply offenders but often victims of exploitation and trauma. This is particularly true for Suffolk’s looked-after children and care leavers, who are at much greater risk of poor mental health and social exclusion, and are over-represented in the justice system. County lines activity provides a clear example of the importance of meeting complex needs with specialist expertise. The Youth Justice Board has long held this unique expertise, championing a child-first approach which prioritises prevention and safeguarding. We should therefore be cautious about transferring significant functions away from it.

Financial Services and Markets Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendments on environmental protections

The Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of a group of amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Bill focused on environmental protection on 9th September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, financial stability is crucial for sustainable growth. It is what allows people and families to plan for the future, to reliably hold savings, pensions and mortgages, and of course it supports businesses to create the jobs on which we depend. In the same way, financial growth and environmental stewardship are interdependent. Growth provides us with resources that allow us to invest in new sustainable fuels, clean infrastructure and new ways to tackle the climate crisis.

Armed Forces Bill: Bishop of Norwich tables amendment on impersonating police officers

On 8th September 2026, the Bishop of Norwich tabled an amendment to the Armed Forces Bill seeking to amend section 90 of the Police Act 1996 to make impersonating a service police officer a specific offence and afford service police the same protections against impersonation given to their civilian counterparts:

59: After Clause 50, insert the following new Clause—

“Impersonation of service police(1) Section 90 of the Police Act 1996 (impersonation, etc.) is amended as follows.(2) In subsection (1), after “force” insert “including service police”.(3) In subsection (2), after “force” insert “including service police”.(4) In subsection (3), after “force” insert “including service police”.(5) In subsection (4), at end insert—“(c) “service police” has the same meaning as in section 375 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (definitions relating to the service police and other police forces).””Member’s explanatory statement

The amendment seeks to amend section 90 of the Police Act 1996 to make impersonating a service police officer a specific offence and afford service police the same protections against impersonation given to their civilian counterparts.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, in moving Amendment 59, I will also speak to Amendment 60 in my name; I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Newnham, and the noble Earl, Lord Minto, for their support. I declare an interest as the father of a soldier.

Votes: Financial Services and Markets Bill

On 7th September 2026, the House of Lords debated the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part.

Financial Services and Markets Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendments on consumer protection and affordability

The Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Bill focused on consumer protection and affordable credit on 7th September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I support Amendment 2 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Bowles of Berkhamsted, to which I have added my name. As we have already heard, this amendment would ensure that, when provisions of the Consumer Credit Act are repealed or replaced by FCA rules, the overall level of consumer protection would not be diminished. The Consumer Credit Act has long provided established routes of redress to consumers; it has done so for decades. It provides a core of fundamental protections enshrined in primary legislation and developed through parliamentary scrutiny, and probably is fairly well known.

Armed Forces Bill: Bishop of Norwich moves amendments on military offences and supports increases to accommodation standards

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in support of amendments on wellbeing and accommodation standards for members of the military during a debate on the Armed Forces Bill on 2nd September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I rise to support Amendments 17 and 18 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Newnham, and I am very grateful to her for spending time over the weekend explaining them in more detail. The noble Baroness is quite right in what she has just said to this House about the need to care for those who are in single accommodation, recognising that that accommodation can be used throughout a whole service career.

Public Office (Accountability) Bill: Bishop of Manchester raises importance of justice and accountability

The Bishop of Manchester spoke at the second reading of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill on 1st September 2026, emphasising the importance of justice and accountability for bereaved families following events such as the Hillsborough Disaster and Manchester Arena Attack:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I declare my interest as co-chair of the ethics committee of the National Police Chiefs’ Council. I heartily welcome the Bill. I have spoken in this House on previous occasions regarding the need for a wide duty of candour. I am delighted that we are now making substantial progress.

The role of public officials is and always must be one of stewardship, not dominance. To remain effective, this relationship demands the ongoing consent of the people, and that is possible only through honesty, transparency and the means for communities to get to the truth when things go wrong. This necessitates a higher standard of conduct for authorities which wield greater powers and capabilities. It requires resources to level the playing field when victims seek justice. This relationship is a fragile one, but it must be carefully maintained if public authorities are to retain the respect and trust of the people they serve. The introduction of a statutory duty of candour and transparency will be an important step towards strengthening this relationship and empowering the people to hold officials accountable when that trust is broken.

As a young priest and industrial chaplain in Rotherham, I was deployed to the Hillsborough stadium when the clergy who had been present at the match were stood down. The sight of the thick, metal crush barriers at the Leppings Lane end, twisted out of shape by the sheer weight of human flesh and bone pressing down on them, still haunts me almost four decades on.

Conduct of Undercover Policing and Surveillance Operatives Bill: Bishop of Newcastle speaks on importance of ethics in police work

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke at the second reading of the Conduct of Undercover Policing and Surveillance Operatives Bill on 17th July 2026, emphasising the importance of trust and ethics in police work:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, for bringing this Bill before your Lordships’ House. It is an honour to follow the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, in this debate. I acknowledge the contributions from your Lordships who have drawn on their expertise and experience, which is far beyond my own.

Before turning to the substance of the Bill, which I support, I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary service that our police officers give to this country. In doing so, I pay tribute to PC Jess Turnbull of Northumbria Police, who tragically died in the line of duty at just 19 years of age. Her funeral was held in Newcastle Cathedral last Friday. We continue to hold her family, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers, giving thanks for her life and her willingness to serve others at such a young age. Her death reminds us that policing is a vocation of public service, often carried out at great personal cost. It is in that spirit that I approach the Bill.

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