Removing the Lords Spiritual from the House of Lords was not part of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill to remove bishops from the House of Lords. Rather, the Bill focussed on removing the remaining excepted hereditary peers. In the name of constitutional ‘modernisation’, the Labour Government is, again, rushing ahead without any pre-legislative scrutiny or cross-party engagement of measures that, in this instance, could change the relationship between the two Houses of Parliament, therefore risking significant and unintended consequences. Speed risks poor legislation.
However, I was contacted with a request to support Gavin Williamson’s amendment to the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill which provides that bishops of the Church of England will no longer be entitled to membership of the House of Lords.
While I note the concerns, I believe it is important that Parliament continues to reflect and acknowledge our Christian heritage and history. The continuing place of Anglican Bishops in the Lords reflects our enduring constitutional arrangement, with an established Church of England and its Supreme Governor as Monarch and Head of State. This relationship between the Crown, Parliament and the Church has evolved over centuries, underpins the fabric of our nation and is the bedrock of our enduring constitutional settlement.
The Lords Spiritual bring an important independent voice and spiritual insight to the work of the Upper House and, while they make no claims to direct representation, seek to be a voice for all people of faith, not just Christians. The presence of the Church of England in every community in England gives Bishops personal access to a very wide spread of civil organisation and experience. Amid the turbulence of partisan politics, I believe their impartial insight provides a welcome reprieve and a unique voice in our legislative process.
Although there are 42 dioceses in the present-day Church of England, the number of places for Lords Spiritual is limited to 26 by statute. Of the 26, I would like to point out that only five – the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishops of London, Durham and Winchester – are automatically granted a seat. As you may be aware, Bishops retire from the House of Lords when they leave office as a Bishop, which they are required to do at age 70.
The House of Lords, drawing on a wide variety of expertise and experience, plays an important role in scrutinising and improving draft legislation while respecting the primacy of the House of Commons. I believe the current system strikes the right balance - we need substantial, independent voices from Parliament who are immune from the needs of political patronage and who, experience has proven, work in the public interest for the good of the nation.
Gavin Williamson’s amendment was lost by 378 votes to 41 with Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio saying,
‘New clause 1 seeks to remove the Lords Spiritual from the House of Lords, and new clause 2 and amendments 1 and 2 are consequential to the substantive clause. While I thank the right hon. Member for tabling the new clause and note the number of signatures attached to it, the Government cannot accept it. This is a focused Bill that delivers on a manifesto commitment to bring about immediate reform.’
I have attached a link to the debate for those would like to read it in full: House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament
Although I abstained on this occasion, I will continue to monitor this issue carefully and I assure constituents I remain amenable to supporting further constitutional reforms when desirable or practical.
