Category: Speeches

Speeches delivered in debates in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Norwich speaks in support of the BBC

“The BBC has plenty of the faults to be found in all large institutions, including government departments. It has a capacity to waste money on IT projects, but no more so than successive Governments. It can be complacent and bureaucratic, but so can the Church of England and the trade unions. What seems to irritate its opponents is its very success.” – Bishop of Norwich, 14/7/15

14.06.12 Bishop of Norwich

On 14th July 2015 the House of Lords debated the future of the BBC. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, a former member of the House of Lords Communications Committee, spoke supportively of the BBC, including its integral role in promoting British values. 

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, it seems odd that a Government so keen to promote British values in our schools appear intent on reducing the capacity of a world-renowned British institution. The BBC is increasingly referred to as though it were part of the public sector. It is not. It is an organisation financed not from the public purse but by those who use it. The fact that many of them are also taxpayers is no more relevant than the fact that those who pay their energy bills are also taxpayers. Perhaps the winter fuel allowance will now be transferred to the energy companies. The logic seems impeccable given the precedent established last week.

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Bishop of Portsmouth argues for delay to plan to extend waiting period for universal credit payments

On 13th July 2015 the House of Lords debated Government proposals to introduce seven waiting days for applicants for universal credit, prior to receipt of payment. Two motions were put to the House – the first, from Lord German, to exempt the housing element of universal credit from that; the second, from Baroness Sherlock, to delay enactment until universal credit had been fully rolled out. The Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, spoke in support of Baroness Sherlock’s amendment and voted for it in the subsequent Division of the House. Baroness Sherlock’s amendment was passed by 135 to 124 votes. The Bishop’s speech and an extract of the Minister’s response is below:

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 2My Lords, I and others from these Benches have welcomed the principle of universal credit, and I readily do so again. However, the best of policies and principles have practical consequences which make all the difference to the effectiveness of policy. In that constructive spirit, wishing universal credit to be successful in simplifying the complexity faced by benefit claimants and confirming the dignity of work at a decent rate of pay, I add some reservations to the extension of waiting time to seven days. Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth argues for delay to plan to extend waiting period for universal credit payments”

Divisions – Universal Credit (Waiting Days) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

On the 13th July 2015, the Bishop of Portsmouth took part in a division on the Universal Credit (Waiting Days) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

He voted ‘Content’ to the motion put by Baroness Sherlock, which was agreed following a division of the House. You can read his speech on the amendment, here.

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Bishop of Chester speaks in a debate about the Anderson Report into Investigatory Powers

14.03 Bishop of Chester

On the 8th July 2015 the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster spoke in a debate about the Anderson Report into investigatory powers. The Bishop focused his comments on the nature of privacy in a digital age and said that the limits set to our privacy must be proportionate and genuinely intended to benefit society as a whole.

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Bishop of Chester speaks in debate on the future of Gaza

14.03 Bishop of ChesterOn the Monday 6th June 2015 the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster spoke during a debate on the future of Gaza. The Bishop spoke of his experiences visiting the region and suggested that addressing the economic disparity between Israel and Gaza was the most pressing concern in preventing history repeating itself.

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Bishop of Southwark praises contribution of ethnic minorities to public services and faith communities

“we should think long and hard before we endorse immigration policies that will only put the cohesion of our public services at risk.” – Bishop of Southwark, 6/7/15

On Monday the 6th July 2015 the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, spoke in a debate about the contribution of Britain’s ethnic minorities to faith communities and public institutions in the United Kingdom. The Bishop spoke about the role played by the Church, his congregations in Southwark and the public debate on immigration.

Bp Southwark May 2015The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, for securing this debate, as it enables us rightly to recognise the vast contribution made by Britain’s ethnic minorities both in public service and in faith communities. It was good to hear the noble Baroness speak of south London. In view of the time constraints I wish to make a brief observation and a broader comment. Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark praises contribution of ethnic minorities to public services and faith communities”

Greece crisis – Bishop of Chester responds to Government statement

14.03 Bishop of ChesterOn the 6th July 2015 the Bishop of Chester responded to a Government Statement on Greece. The Bishop asked if the Government should be using its role outside of the eurozone strategically and what contact had been made between the UK and Greece recently to discuss the political situation.

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‘We cannot shirk our responsibility to be a force for good in the world’, Bishop of Worcester tells Peers

“We cannot shirk our responsibility to be a force for good in the world. The type of challenges highlighted by this debate can be managed only in partnership with others—working to win hearts and minds, as well as being involved in any defence initiatives.” – Bishop of Worcester, 2/7/15

On Thursday 2nd July 2015 the Lords debated a motion moved by Lord Ashdown of Norton–sub-Hamdon ‘that this House takes note of the United Kingdom’s role in addressing global challenges posed by terrorism, conflict, climate change and mass migration’. The Bishop of Worcester, Rt Revd John Inge, spoke in the debate.

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, I begin by expressingmy profound sadness in the wake of the recent horrific terrorist attacks. A student from the University of Worcester was killed in Tunisia, which brought home to people locally that these problems are not “out there”. It demonstrated very clearly the connectivity, of which the noble Lord, Lord WorcesterAshdown, spoke so eloquently.

What should our response be to the unprecedented times described so well by the noble Lord? While recognising that we have faced more difficult times, as the First World War commemorations remind us, we need to hold on to the strategic objectives that have underpinned British foreign policy since 1945 but adapt them for these new circumstances. We need to recognise that, although we live in an unprecedentedly connected world, it remains fractured and broken, and we need to work ever harder in partnership with others for the global common good. Continue reading “‘We cannot shirk our responsibility to be a force for good in the world’, Bishop of Worcester tells Peers”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about provision of mental health care services for children and young people

On 30th June 2015 the House of Lords debated a motion from Baroness Tyler of Enfield “to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to respond to the recommendations of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Task Force Report Future in Mind.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, spoke in the debate.

Bishop St Albans June 2015The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler, for introducing this debate, for the excellent work of the task group and for the commitment that Her Majesty’s Government have already made to this area.

I also pay tribute to the many excellent charities that are working in this area. Just round the corner from where I live in St Albans is a small charity. I do not suppose that any of your Lordships will have heard of it. It is called Youth Talk and it was set up some years ago, in 1997, by a local GP after she realised that there was a need for a safe place where young people could come for counselling and support. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about provision of mental health care services for children and young people”

Bishop of Derby: Opinion polls ‘more in the realm of entertainment than science’

“My opinion is that we should let the polling industry do its best. I would categorise it more in the realm of entertainment than science. It is helpful, people enjoy it and it is useful but we need a sense of proportion.” – Bishop of Derby, 18/6/15

On Thursday 18th June 2015 the Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern took part in a Lords debate tabled by Lord Lipsey, to ask the Government “whether they plan to regulate the opinion-polling industry.” He said:

Bishop of DerbyThe Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I want to look at opinion poll industry regulation in a general way, rather than focusing on a particular case, as the noble Lords, Lord Lipsey and Lord McColl, have done.

In the spirit of the Motion I am going to offer an opinion. My first point is about opinion itself. Opinion is, by definition, fragile and changeable. It is lite—that is L-I-T-E, for Hansard—and that is very different from attitudes and prejudices, which are firm and more long-standing. We live in a time of opinion, when people just tweet things without much thought—bang, out goes the view. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby: Opinion polls ‘more in the realm of entertainment than science’”