Twenty-six Anglican bishops are given seats as of right in the House of Lords.
The UK is the only western democracy which reserves seats for clerics in its legislature.
This is unfair, undemocratic and undesirable. It's time to abolish the bishops' bench.
Two archbishops and 24 bishops of the Church of England currently have automatic seats in the House of Lords. They are sometimes known as 'the lords spiritual'.
We campaign for a secular upper house with no specific religious representation, whether of Christian denominations or any other faiths. In a secular state no religion or its leaders should have a privileged role in the legislature.
Any serious proposals to reform the House of Lords must address the unjustified privilege of the bishops' bench.
62% of Brits think no religious clerics should have an automatic right to seats in the House of Lords.
After over a century of decline in religious attendance in Britain, the claim that bishops — or any other religious representatives — speak for any significant constituency is not warranted. Less than 1% of the British population now attend Anglican services on the average Sunday.
In addition, the presence of religious leaders amounts to double representation of religious interests as many peers already identify themselves as being religiously motivated. Retired religious leaders are often appointed as peers.
Bishops do not have any "special moral insight" unavailable to everybody else. The idea that bishops or any other 'religious leaders' have any monopoly on issues of morality is offensive to many non-religious citizens. Those who profess no religion are no less capable of making moral and ethical judgements.
In an increasingly secular society the role of religious representatives in our legislature has become irrelevant, and has stood in the way of progressive legislation.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Ask your MP to help end the archaic, unfair and undemocratic bishops’ bench in the House of Lords.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Remove bishops from House of Lords, says commission
Posted: Wed, 29 Mar 2023
Bishops should no longer sit as of right in the House of Lords, a commission on political reform has said.
In a paper published today, the Commission on Political Power has said Church of England bishops are an "anomalous" presence in the House of Lords and recommended their removal in a reformed second chamber.
The National Secular Society called for this reform in its submission to the commission in October.
Currently two Church of England archbishops and 24 bishops are given seats in the upper house (the "bishops' bench") and are able to vote on legislation.
Their position grants them other privileges, and they are given deferential treatment by other members.
The NSS said it was "indefensible" to maintain the status quo, with 2021 YouGov polling showing only 16% of the public believe bishops should be given seats automatically.
The commission said reform of the House of Lords is "urgently needed", with many questioning its undemocratic nature and "legitimacy within Britain's political system".
The commission has called for the House of Lords to be replaced with a representative Senate and recommended removing the bishops' bench as one of ten ideas for reform.
It said the presence of bishops is "anomalous as representatives of the established religion".
It added that change would require primary legislation.
The commission also said any appointments commission for the House of Lords "should take into account the balance of faith representation".
NSS: Scrapping the bishops' bench would "remove an unjustifiable religious privilege from our legislature"
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "Ending the arrangement whereby representatives of one religious denomination are given seats as of right would remove an unjustifiable religious privilege from our legislature and make for a more equitable and democratic second chamber.
"Whilst it would be reasonable for an appointments commission to take into account the balance of faith representation in a reformed House of Lords or Senate, any attempt to build in religious-based representation, whether ex-officio or appointed, would be a divisive and retrograde step."
Sandi Toksvig starts petition to remove bishops from Lords
Posted: Fri, 3 Feb 2023 14:26
Writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig has launched a petition to remove the bishops appointed to the House of Lords.
The petition, launched today on Change.org, calls for "the removal the Church Of England's privilege to appoint bishops into the House of Lords, and remove existing bishops currently sitting in the House of Lords".
As a result of the Church of England's established status, two of its archbishops and 24 currently are assigned seats as of right in the House of Lords (the 'bishops' bench').
Less than 1% of the population in England regularly attend CofE church services.
In a video on Twitter accompanying the petition (pictured), Toksvig said: "There are only two countries in the world where representatives of the state religion automatically get a seat in the legislature. They are the UK and Iran.
"A curious and indeed uncomfortable club of two to belong to."
She also commented on the bishops' opposition to legalising same-sex marriage, and the Church's exemptions from equality law which allow them to discriminate against LGBT people and women.
She added: "Of course everyone in there is entirely free to think as they please. What they should not be allowed to do is to hold sway in our House, the Houses of Parliament.
"It doesn't matter what your faith is, or even isn't, it's discriminatory and it has to stop."
Toksvig has been one of the Church's most prominent critics since archbishop Justin Welby reaffirmed the CofE's opposition to same-sex relationships in August.
She said in an open letter to Welby that the lives of LGBT+ people are at stake, pointing to higher rates of suicide among LGBT+ young people and the death threats she had received from evangelical Christians.
Following a meeting with Welby last month to discuss the issue, she concluded: "It was very clear that opposing factions of the worldwide Anglican Communion are being, in part, held together at the expense of the human rights of the LGBT+ community".
Welby is reported to have said he would "rather see the Church of England lose its privileged status" as the established church than split the Anglican communion over the issue of same-sex marriage. The comments are said to have been made in a private meeting between the archbishop and a number of MPs.
NSS 'fully supports' petition
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "We fully support Sandi Toksvig's message and her petition to remove the bishops from the House of Lords.
"We've long argued the Church's unjust and unfair privileges should be removed.
"And now, with Christians being a minority in England and Wales, and the Church growing increasingly out-of-step on social issues, the need to end the Church's privileged place in parliament is more crucial than ever.
"As Sandi Toksvig herself said: Iran and the UK - time to make that a club of one."
You can sign Sandi Toksvig's petition here. Please also send a letter to your MP calling for the removal of the bishops.
We are holding a free event on separation of church and state this February - click here for more information and to book your place.
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