Lichfield – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Lichfield asks about support for interfaith work and combatting antisemitism

The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on antisemitism in the UK, attitudes to the situation in Israel/Palestine, and interfaith engagement on 26th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, as noble Lords have said, we should all be deeply concerned by the resurgence of antisemitism around the world. We must all unequivocally condemn the sickening recent incidents in our own country. The definition of antisemitism agreed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is widely, though not universally, accepted, including by our own Government. It has also been adopted by the Church of England. Attached to that definition is a list of 11 possible examples of contemporary antisemitism, of which seven reference attitudes to the State of Israel. Would the Minister agree that one-sided, simplistic or inaccurate accounts of what is a complex and contested situation in Israel-Palestine can fuel the growth of antisemitism and other forms of religious hatred, including in our own country? If so, what support are His Majesty’s Government able to give to interfaith organisations that seek to present more balanced views and to encourage dialogue and learning around these difficult issues?

Bishop of Lichfield asks about interfaith work in government following attack on Manchester synagogue

On 15th October 2025, the The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on interfaith work in government following a statement on the recent attack on a synagogue in Manchester:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, my prayers are with the victims, their families and all our Jewish communities following this appalling attack. It is shocking that the ancient evil of antisemitism is currently resurgent in our society. We must remain vigilant against it and all forms of religious hatred. No one in this country should ever feel unsafe because of their faith, and particularly not unsafe in their place of worship.

Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill: Bishop of Lichfield highlights concerns around social security

The Bishop of Lichfield spoke at the second reading of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill on 15th May 2025, raising concerns regarding the impact of the bill on the social security system:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, I am very glad to see the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Spielman, on the speakers’ list for this debate; I look forward to her maiden speech and her future contributions to this House.

We all need to acknowledge the understandable frustration, felt from government downwards, about waste in public spending and fraud perpetrated at the public’s expense. It is right that expenditure be managed carefully, ensuring that people receive support when they need it, and eliminating fraud and error within the system as far as that is possible.

At the encouragement of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Leicester, who much regrets that he cannot be in his place today, I will focus on the second limb of this Bill, which concerns individual claimants of social security. This is a matter of morality. To support people into work, where they are able; to ensure that people can enjoy an acceptable standard of living when they cannot work or to top up their low income; and to deliver a fair and sustainable social security system now and in the future: these are all moral imperatives. Addressing fraud and error—ensuring that government can recover money when required—is also a morally vital matter of maintaining public consent, which should be a welcome outcome of this proposed legislation. Put simply, our social security system must both be fair and be perceived as fair by the public.

Bishop of Lichfield asks about facilitating integration in UK communities

The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on facilitating community integration on 15 May 2025, following a government statement on the UK immigration system:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, the White Paper rightly recognises the role that successful integration plays in enabling people to realise their full potential and increasing community cohesion. It particularly highlights the importance of language learning. Yet this, though important, is not the sole factor that influences the extent to which someone is successfully integrated in society. Successful integration is multifaceted. It requires, for example, the provision of adequate housing, employment opportunities, social networks and the ability to navigate services. A more holistic approach to integration is needed—one that extends beyond the development of language skills. What consideration are the Government giving to introducing more expansive measures to facilitate successful integration?

Bishop of Lichfield asks about reintegration of ex-offenders

The Bishop of Lichfield tabled a question on government support for ex-offenders to support their transition from life in prison and their reintegration into society on 15th May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: To ask His Majesty’s Government what support they are providing for ex-offenders to support their transition from life in prison and their reintegration into society.

Bishop of Lichfield highlights role of education in community cohesion

The Bishop of Lichfield spoke in a debate on integration and community cohesion on 13th March 2025, emphasising the importance of reaching across barriers and the role of education in promoting community cohesion:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, I sincerely thank the noble Baroness, Lady Verma, for securing this important debate. I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Raval, on his excellent maiden speech, and I look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Rook. I thank the noble Lord for all the work he has done over the years with the churches, including the Church of England, in which he is an ordained priest, and with communities of other faiths. I commend his tireless advocacy, as a key adviser to the Government, of the important role that faith plays in the life of our country. I know that his vast experience and expertise, and that of the noble Lord, Lord Raval, will add great value to this House.

Bishop of Lichfield asks about consultation on new definition of Islamophobia

The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on government plans for consultation with Muslim communities and wider society in providing a definition of Islamophobia on 13th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, I welcome the Government’s launch of a new working group to provide a definition of Islamophobia. I ask the Minister: whom does this group plan to consult, both within and beyond the Islamic community, to inform that definition and ensure that it accounts for the lived experience of the Muslim community?

Bishop of Lichfield asks about probation service and suicide in prisons

The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answers on 13th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what the average caseload of probation officers in England and Wales was in each year of the last decade.

Bishop of Lichfield asks about deaths by suicide of those on probation

The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answer on 12th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government how many deaths by suicide of people on probation there were in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Bishop of Lichfield asks about impact of early release scheme on the Probation Service

The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answer on 11th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the early release scheme on the Probation Service; and what additional support and funding they are providing to the Probation Service in connection with that scheme.

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