manchester – The Church of England in Parliament

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

The Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of amendments on the topic of community rights during a debate on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill on 26th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I think I have been cued in. I will speak to my Amendment 318A as—yes, still—the Bishop of Manchester. There is a vacancy in London, but I think I am too old to be considered.

Over the last 18 months, I have been chairing the Manchester Social Housing Commission. Central to our work has been the contributions that local residents and communities representing their neighbourhoods make to our thinking and, eventually, our recommendations. We have seen how empowered communities make a real difference. They are the people who know what it is like to live where they do. They can shape local services for the best results.

Far from being a problem for authorities to manage, communities continually demonstrate how they respond to the cost of living crisis or the epidemic of loneliness. People in communities are vital in driving their own solutions. As I go around my diocese, I see again and again how local people taking the initiative really make a difference.

Bishop of Manchester asks about access to healthcare in rural areas

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on access to GP services in rural areas during a discussion on a Commons Urgent Question on the GP Contract on 17th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, the Statement made in the other place refers explicitly to coastal areas and deprived places, and I welcome that. Will the Minister say something about how we can ensure that there is good access to GP services in rural areas?

Votes: Pension Schemes Bill

On 16th March 2026, the House of Lords debated the Pension Schemes Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Bishop of Manchester asks about tackling antisemitism on university campuses

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the roles of external actors in fuelling antisemitism on university campuses, and the role of university chaplaincy teams in addressing this, on 16th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, this has been a significant issue in Manchester for all my time as Bishop and I am glad we are having this chance to consider it. What assessment is being made of the extent to which external actors—we have heard about university lecturers, but maybe even foreign Governments—are fuelling this? To what extent can the multifaith chaplaincy teams that many of our universities have be part of the means of addressing it?

Votes: Victims and Courts Bill

On 10th March 2026, the House of Lords debated the Victims and Courts Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Bishop of Manchester asks about investment in educational transition points

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on encouraging healthy management of educational transitions for children on 24 February 2026, following a government statement on the schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I declare an interest in that my diocese has more than 190 Church schools and we educate around 60,000 children, in the total roll across them. The Church of England has already officially welcomed the White Paper and these Benches echo that this evening.

Votes: Tobacco and Vapes Bill

On 24th February 2026, the House of Lords debated the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

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.

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.

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:

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