On 18th March 2025, the Bishop of Gloucester tabled a question on the durability of the ceasefire in Gaza, condemning the recent airstrikes on Gaza and raising the possibility of targeted sanctions against the Israeli government:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the durability of the ceasefire in Gaza.
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The Bishop of London asked a question on addressing wider issues in health inequalities in relation to healthy eating on 18th March 2025, during a discussion on the success of the soft drinks industry levy:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, we know well that diet and nutrition, and the infrastructure from which we can access the food that we eat, determine our health. These things continue to be unequal. The proportion of household income required to afford to follow the Eatwell Guide is 11% in the least deprived areas and 45% in the most deprived areas. What consideration will be given in the NHS plan to these wider issues—including the merits of reformulation policies—to improve the critical determinants of health?
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The Bishop of London spoke in a debate on UK policy on the war in Ukraine on 17th March 2025, advocating for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and for investment in preventative diplomacy, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding by the UK:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Purvis.
As he points out, peace is not only the absence of war but the presence of justice and of the conditions for human flourishing. Therefore, what we need is a just and lasting peace. This peace must address the causes of the war and provide for Ukraine’s security, sovereignty and freedom. We must recognise that this peace needs to be negotiated by all parties and cannot be dictated by the US. We must recognise that any ceasefire will need to be maintained through a combination of mechanisms, such as troops on the ground and trained mediators who can deal with the contentious and central issues, such as access to resources and the repatriation of civilians.
Continue reading “Bishop of London urges investment in diplomacy and peacebuilding during debate on the war in Ukraine”The Bishop of London asked a question on the need to include older women in the government’s strategy to prevent violence against women and girls on 17th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, the most recent Femicide Census notes that cases of older women who are killed and subject to extreme sexual violence are often seen as not newsworthy. The charity Hourglass, which works to reduce the abuse of older people in the UK, has experienced an increase in calls by 50% over the last two years. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that older women are not forgotten in the development of their strategy?
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The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham received the following written answer on 17th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the changes to the system for reclaiming VAT on listed places of worship on projects which have already signed a contract and where the work has begun, such as St Mary Magdalene Church in Newark.
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The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 17th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Israel regarding the Protection of Israeli Public Officials from the Action of the International Criminal Court in The Hague against the State of Israel Bill 2024.
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The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answers on 17th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support people in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq who are internally displaced because of the threat posed by Daesh.
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The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 17th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government, following the recent announcement of the diversion of funds from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to the defence budget, whether they plan to decrease the proportion of ODA spent on in-donor refugee support.
Continue reading “Bishop of Sheffield asks about overseas development aid”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.
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On 14th March 2025, the Bishop of Manchester’s private member’s bill, the Universal Credit (Standard Allowance Entitlement of Care Leavers) Bill, had its third reading and passed through the House of Lords:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, as this will be my last opportunity to address your Lordships’ House on this Bill, I crave your indulgence for a couple of minutes. There are something like 92,000 care leavers in the 18 to 25 age bracket at any one time. While it is hard to be precise about how much this Bill would cost, the best estimate is that it would probably add something like £25 million a year to the total costs on the Government. That would enable a young care leaver who is in receipt of universal credit to get an extra £80 a month, which is 25% more than they currently get. It would be life-changing for them. It would make, I would argue, very little difference to the state of the nation’s finances.
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