On 2nd April 2025, the House of Lords debated the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:
Votes: Bus Services (No. 2) Bill
Category: Bills
Legislation before Parliament
Hereditary Peers Bill: Bishop of London advocates for greater inclusion of faith groups in the House of Lords
The Bishop of London spoke at the committee debate on the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill on 1st April 2025, supporting the inclusion of wider faith representatives in the House of Lords:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 109, in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Northbrook. Those of us on these Benches are clear that we support the inclusion of wider faith representatives in your Lordships’ House.
Continue reading “Hereditary Peers Bill: Bishop of London advocates for greater inclusion of faith groups in the House of Lords”Hereditary Peers Bill: Bishop of St Albans supports amendment on nomination of peers following passage of the bill
The Bishop of St Albans spoke at the committee stage of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill on 1st April 2025, supporting an amendment tabled by Baroness Mobarik which “would require the Prime Minister to give groups in Parliament the ability to nominate individuals to be appointed as life peers to replace the number of hereditary peers in their group. This could include reappointing some hereditary peers as life peers.”
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I will not detain the Committee for long. I find myself very much in sympathy with the intention of this amendment and particularly with what the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, said a few moments ago.
Continue reading “Hereditary Peers Bill: Bishop of St Albans supports amendment on nomination of peers following passage of the bill”Bishop of Chichester moves chancel repair and church funding measures
On 31st March 2025, the Bishop of Chichester moved that the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure and the Church Funds Investment Measure be presented for Royal Assent:
Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure
The Lord Bishop of Chichester: That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.
My Lords, this Measure rationalises the legal basis on which the Church Commissioners are obliged to provide funds to repair the chancels of certain parish churches. The existing law in this area has its origins in the time before the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century. The rule that applied generally in England was that the people of the parish were responsible for maintaining the nave of the parish church, the main part of the church where the people would generally stand or kneel during services, and the rector of the parish was responsible for the chancel, the eastern-most part of the church that contains the altar and seats the clergy.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chichester moves chancel repair and church funding measures”Employment Rights Bill: Bishop of Newcastle welcomes improvements to workers’ rights
On 27th March 2025, the Bishop of Newcastle spoke at the second reading of the Employment Rights Bill, welcoming the bill and emphasising the need to enable workers to flourish in order to grow the economy:
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I am glad to speak in this Second Reading. I look forward to the maiden speeches and welcome new Members to your Lordships’ House.
Some years ago, I undertook research on the apostle Paul and work. Paul was never one to shy away from hard work and spoke of the personal cost of his tent making business, describing it as wearisome and fraught with the challenges of local politics. Two thousand years later, we continue to live amid diverse uncertainties.
The desire to make work pay and improve workers’ rights, as proposed by this Bill, must pay attention to the obvious: people who work are human beings. A strong economy needs resilient workers. As we scrutinise this legislation, we do so affirming that workers matter. If we get this right, we can move closer to a society in which people are viewed with inherent value and dignity. When people are valued and supported in what they do, they contribute to greater economic flourishing.
Continue reading “Employment Rights Bill: Bishop of Newcastle welcomes improvements to workers’ rights”Votes: National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill
On 24th March 2025, the House of Lords debated the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on families of service members
On 19th March 2025, the Bishop of Norwich spoke in favour of amendments to the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill regarding support for families of service members:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Shinkwin, and the reflections that he has offered the Committee. I rise to support Amendments 8 and 9. I am grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Minto, and the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, for outlining their thinking around this issue because it goes to the heart of how we as a nation care for and see the well-being of our Armed Forces and their families, as part of the whole package that we offer to them.
As I think noble Lords know, I speak as the father of a member of the Armed Forces. It is often said that a parent is only as happy as their least happy child. On one level, I can imagine that it is also true that a member of His Majesty’s Armed Forces is only as happy as their least happy family member. So there is a pastoral duty here—one that is supported by many in the Armed Forces, including welfare organisations and our military chaplains—but both these amendments would help us really state the pastoral support that we as a nation feel is important for not only our Armed Forces personnel but their children, their families and their dependants.
Continue reading “Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on families of service members”Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: Bishop of London welcomes legislation
The Bishop of London spoke at the second reading of the Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill on 19th March 2025, welcoming the bill and its intended purpose of removing the prohibition on Roman Catholics serving as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble and learned Lords, Lord Wallace and Lord Hope. We on these Benches welcome this Bill and, as we have already heard, so does the Church of Scotland.
Continue reading “Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: Bishop of London welcomes legislation”Votes: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill
On 18th March 2025, the House of Lords debated the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Palestine (Statehood Recognition) Bill: Bishop of Gloucester supports legislation
The Bishop of Gloucester spoke at the second reading of the Palestine (Statehood Recognition) Bill, a private member’s bill tabled by Baroness Northover, on 14th March 2025, supporting the bill and stressing the need for the UK to support an independent Palestine and the principle of equality for all:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, I declare an interest in that I am a patron of the charity Embrace the Middle East. I am also a regular visitor to the region and last visited in June, spending time particularly in the West Bank. As Palestinians shared stories from the past and the present. I was really struck by the absence of hope, the absence of a vision for the future and the focus on simply trying to survive the present.
It is poignant that today is the Jewish festival of Purim, wonderfully marking the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation. It is a stark reminder that all people are equal and, I would add, created in the image of God.
We must go on naming the abhorrent attack on Israel by Hamas. We remember all those who grieve and live with trauma, and of course those who continue to be held hostage and must be released. At the same time, we must not become dull to the horrors of the war in Gaza. All people are equal.
Continue reading “Palestine (Statehood Recognition) Bill: Bishop of Gloucester supports legislation”
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