After twelve years on the Bishops’ Benches in the House of Lords, Rt Rev Martin Wharton retires as Bishop of Newcastle at the end of this month. We look back at some of his work in parliament.
Rt Rev Martin Wharton joined the House of Lords in 2002, five years after becoming Bishop of Newcastle. At the time of his retirement in November 2014 only two other serving Lords Spiritual had spent longer in the House. His contributions over those years were notable for being measured, meaningful – usually aimed at highlighting a matter of social or economic injustice – and very often involved reference to the people and communities of the north-east. Continue reading “Farewell to the Bishop of Newcastle”
Tag: Newcastle
Bishop of Newcastle speaks in debate on wind farming in Northumberland
On 15th October 2014 Baroness Quin led a short debate in the House of Lords on the Government’s assessment of the extent of onshore wind farming in the county of Northumberland. The Lord Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton, contributed to the debate, making the case for an increased focus on the development of alternative forms of renewable energy outside the county of Northumberland.
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, last Friday I took a relatively short train journey from Waterloo to Winchester, in the heart of the Hampshire countryside. The journey took little more than an hour, about the same time as it takes me to travel through my diocese from Newcastle to the Scottish border. There was a striking difference between those two train journeys. Obviously, there was no beautiful coast or even the odd castle on my trip to Hampshire, and yet to me the most striking difference was that there was not a wind turbine—let alone a wind farm—in sight at all. This is hardly surprising when you consider that Northumberland now has more wind power capacity installed than 16 counties in the south of England put together. It is then hardly surprising that a recent survey claimed that 70% of the British public support onshore wind. The truth is that 70% of the British public live in places where they will never have to put up with the sight or the sound of a wind turbine, unlike the people who happen to live in the beautiful county of Northumberland. During my time as bishop, wind farms have proliferated across the countryside to an alarming degree.
The level of Northumberland’s contribution to the Government’s onshore wind targets has been disproportionately high, as we have heard. We contribute more than 10% of all England’s wind energy but consume just over 0.5% of England’s electricity. Nobody should accuse us of nimbyism. It is hardly surprising then that the message from this short debate is simply: enough is enough. The good people of Northumberland have had enough of onshore wind farms. That point has finally, if belatedly, been recognised by DCLG in recent guidance, which states that it does not mean that,
“the need for renewable energy … overrides environmental protection and the planning concerns of local communities”. Continue reading “Bishop of Newcastle speaks in debate on wind farming in Northumberland”
Bishop of Newcastle on role of education in improving social mobility in the north-east
“…she went away to university but then, crucially, returned to give back to the wider community the benefits of the education that she had received. We need more people like her—people not using their education to escape from the area, but realising that with well trained minds and warm hearts they have much to give for the common good..” – Bishop of Newcastle
The Bishop of Newcastle gave a speech in a House of Lords debate on 13th March 2014, tabled by the Education Minister Lord Nash.
The debate title was: ‘that this House takes note of the role of primary and secondary education in improving social mobility.’
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle:
My Lords, I, too, welcome this debate about the role of primary and secondary education in improving social mobility, and I want to speak from my experience as a bishop in the north-east of England for the past 16 years.
Immigration Bill – Bishop of Newcastle raises concern about potential for discrimination by landlords
During the committee stage of the Government’s Immigration Bill in the Lords on 12th March 2014, the Bishop of Newcastle drew attention to the potential impact of measures in clause 16 that require nationality checks on potential tenants by private landlords. The Bishop asked the Minister whether the need for private landlords to have regard to a code of practice was in itself robust enough to prevent discrimination against migrants or those of foreign name or appearance.
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, perhaps I may also ask for some clarification. One of my concerns about this part of the Bill is that many landlords will simply not rent to anyone who seems to be foreign or who does not hold a British passport for fear of getting it wrong and being fined. I am afraid that that will inadvertently result in further racial discrimination and provide a charter for those unscrupulous landlords who are racist.
In response to the consultation, the Government accepted that the new rules might provoke landlords to discriminate against people they perceive to be foreign rather than to conduct proper checks. They also recognised the risk that vulnerable people might be impacted. So, in relation to the code of practice and the associated guidance which will make it clear that the checks do not allow landlords to act in a manner inconsistent with the UK’s equality legislation, is that in itself sufficient? It simply requires landlords to read the code and adhere to it without any redress at all if they do not. Continue reading “Immigration Bill – Bishop of Newcastle raises concern about potential for discrimination by landlords”
Votes – Offender Rehabilitation Bill / Antisocial Behaviour etc Bill
Bishops took part in two votes in the House of Lords yesterday (11th March), on amendments to two separate Government Bills, which were at the final stages of their parliamentary progress.
Continue reading “Votes – Offender Rehabilitation Bill / Antisocial Behaviour etc Bill”
Votes – Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill
On 8th, 14th, 20th and 22nd January 2014, seven bishops took part in votes on amendments to the Government’s Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, during its Report Stage.
Continue reading “Votes – Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill”
Bishop of Ripon and Leeds speaks in favour of amendment to reduce noise disturbance around Westminster Abbey
On 20th January 2014, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds spoke in favour of an amendment to the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, during the Bill’s Report Stage. The amendment, proposed by Lord Deben and co-sponsored by the Bishop of Newcastle, related to the use of amplified noise equipment in vicinity of the Palace of Westminster, and the Bishop spoke of the impact that such equipment has on worship in Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church.
Bishop of Newcastle speaks of urgent need for mesothelioma research funding
“I knew very little about mesothelioma until I became aware of its effects, not least through the early death in 2009 of the former Bishop of Peterborough, who some Members may recall” – Bishop of Newcastle
On 16th January 2014, the Bishop of Newcastle took part in Lord Alton’s debate on mesothelioma research funding.
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I, too, am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for initiating this short debate. I speak to support him and to encourage the Government to enable the establishment of a mesothelioma research funding scheme as urgently as possible. Research into this form of cancer is very much the Cinderella of cancer research in the UK, and there is an urgent need for us to do more and to do better.
Continue reading “Bishop of Newcastle speaks of urgent need for mesothelioma research funding”
Bishop of Newcastle raises concerns about unemployment levels in North East
On 15th January 2014, Lord Holmes of Richmond asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of people in full-time employment in the United Kingdom.
The Bishop of Newcastle asked a supplementary question:
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, the Minister will be aware that there are still significant regional differences in unemployment levels in the UK. Can he tell us what regional policies the Government may have in mind to help the situation in areas such as the one where I live, in the north-east of England, where unemployment levels are still in double figures?
Continue reading “Bishop of Newcastle raises concerns about unemployment levels in North East”
Votes – Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
On 13th and 15th January 2014, two bishops took part in votes on amendments to the Government’s Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, during its Report Stage.
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