Tag: manchester

Bishop of Manchester expresses concern at legislative overreach during debate on public order measures

On 4th February 2026, the Bishop of Manchester spoke during a debate on a motion to approve the Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025 (adding the life sciences sector to the list of key national infrastructure), and an associated fatal motion in the name of Baroness Bennet of Manor Castle, expressing his concern at potential legislative overreach:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, it is always a pleasure to follow my noble and right reverend friend. I will be brief. It has been very clear to me in this debate that we need the life sciences in this country, and we probably conduct them in a better manner than many other parts of the world do, and that is a good reason for maintaining them here.

Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester expresses concern at legislative overreach during debate on public order measures”

Bishop of Manchester asks about effective community policing

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on ensuring effective neighbourhood and community policing during a discussion on the Police Reform White Paper on 3rd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I note that when the original Statement was made in the other place, it began and ended with a reference to Sir Robert Peel. In my capacity as the co-chair of the National Police Ethics Committee for England and Wales, I probably talk more about the Peelian principles than I ever thought I was going to do in earlier life. One of those essential principles is that policing is a civilian force: it is people, the citizenry, policing themselves.

Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about effective community policing”

Votes: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

On 3rd February 2026, the House of Lords debated the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:

Continue reading “Votes: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill”

Bishop of Manchester pays tribute to Lord Wallace of Tankerness

On 3rd February 2026, the Bishop of Manchester joined in tributes paid in the House of Lords to Lord Wallace of Tankerness, who had recently passed away:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, from these Benches, I associate my comments and condolences with those who have previously spoken. Lord Wallace was kind, welcoming and generous to new Bishops joining this House. Both he and his wife Rosie are extraordinary people. He in particular made a significant impact on shaping the very culture and society in Scotland we see today across the whole trinity—if I may use a word dear to him—of law, politics and church. His two main belief systems were indeed the Church and politics. They supported each other, and although, as we have heard, he never served as a minister in the religious sense, he was ordained: he was an elder, and many across Orkney and beyond have reported how pertinent and encouraging his sermons and hominies were.

Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester pays tribute to Lord Wallace of Tankerness”

Bishop of Manchester asks about draft code of practice on single sex spaces

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the importance of ensuring any draft code of practice on single sex spaces reflect compassion, respect, and kindness as well as legal clarity, during a discussion on the EHRC guidance on single-spaces on 2nd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, perhaps this is a very obvious question to come from a bishop, but these are matters that affect people’s sense of dignity, their identity, belonging and everyday lives. Can the Minister say how the Government are ensuring that, alongside legal clarity, the approach taken in considering this draft code reflects compassion, respect and kindness towards all those affected, so that the guidance not only supports compliance but will encourage a much-needed culture of mutual understanding?

Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about draft code of practice on single sex spaces”

Bishop of Manchester joins in tributes to retiring Lord Speaker

The Bishop of Manchester took part in tributes to the retiring Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, on 2nd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I add the thanks of our Benches to our former Lord Speaker. We are enormously grateful for the warmth of his welcome to us, which began from the moment we were introduced to the House, and continued each day, as he introduced the duty Bishop leading Prayers. We also warmly welcome the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, whose enormous gifts have already been attested, and with whom we look forward to working for the effective work and maintenance of the rights and privileges of your Lordships’ House.

Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester joins in tributes to retiring Lord Speaker”

Votes: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

On 28th January 2026, the House of Lords debated the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:

Continue reading “Votes: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill”

Bishop of Manchester asks about funding for music and drama education

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on support for music and drama heritage in the UK on 28th January 2026, during a discussion on funding of the Music and Dance Scheme for schools to support children from families with lower incomes:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I declare my interest: I might myself have the voice of a frog but I have Chetham’s School of Music, which provides wonderful choristers for my cathedral. Does the Minister agree with me that there seems to be an anomaly? Last week the Government were able to announce significant money over four or five years for the built heritage of this country. However, when it comes to an equally important part of our heritage, our music and drama heritage, we are told that the most we can expect is another year and then, perhaps, later on, something longer. Why can we not have a similar length of settlement for the music and dance schools now as we had for the built heritage last week?

Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about funding for music and drama education”

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Bishop of Manchester moves amendment on religious education

On 28th January 2026, the Bishop of Manchester spoke in a debate on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill regarding regulation of home education, and moved his own amendment on mitigation “of adverse impact on institutions providing religious instruction, but not wider or general education, as identified in the Equality Impact Statement.”

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I will be very brief. It is an old, apparently African, adage that it takes a village to raise a child, but it is no less true for that. What that captures in a few words is that raising a child is a balance: a partnership between the parents on the one hand and the wider community on the other. I think that is what we are trying to get at in this group of amendments: what are the appropriate powers for the state to have and what should be simply left to parents?

Continue reading “Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Bishop of Manchester moves amendment on religious education”

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks to amendment on social media use by under 18s

On 21st January 2026, The Bishop of Manchester spoke in committee debate on an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill regarding use of social media by under 18s, pointing out the procedural deficits of rushing to vote on an amendment and the need for the UK to resist pressure from tech companies:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, perhaps I am a simple-minded and naive bishop, but it seems we are getting into a debate we probably should have had in Committee on the different ways of approaching a quite specific issue, and I would rather we did not spend all night doing that. Yet we are where we are.

Continue reading “Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks to amendment on social media use by under 18s”