MP Letter: Bishops Bench

Bishops in the Lords

Writing to your MP can help to get the campaign for Lords reform on the political agenda. We campaign in parliament as an organisation, and your support will bolster our case.

Hints and tips

- Personalising your letter will make it more likely to have an impact.

- Keep your thoughts fairly brief. MPs are busy and get a lot of correspondence.

- Use clear and simple language.

Name*:

Email*:

Postcode*:

Address:

Message*:

Dear {{name}},

The UK is the only western democracy which reserves seats for clerics in its legislature. This is unfair, undemocratic and undesirable. I therefore urge you to work to end the automatic right of bishops to sit in the House of Lords.

The need to reform the upper chamber, including reducing its size, is well recognised. Removing the twenty-six places reserved for Church of England bishops is an obvious place to start.

After over a century of decline in religious affiliation in the UK, the claim that bishops — or any other religious representatives — speak for any significant constituency is not warranted. Less than 1% of the British population attend Anglican services on the average Sunday. Additionally, the 2021 census found Christians are now a minority in England and Wales.

Bishops do not have any ‘special moral insight’ unavailable to everybody else. The argument 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 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.

The bishops' bench is not popular with the public. A 2022 survey found over 60% of UK adults think bishops should have no place in parliament.

There are also proposals to introduce automatic seats for religious leaders of other faiths. This is the wrong approach and would introduce further unfairness. Any reforms made to the House of Lords should not include any specific religious representation, whether of Christian denominations or any other faiths.

Ending the bishops’ right to seats in parliament would be a tangible step towards a modern and inclusive state where no one is disadvantaged, nor privileged, because of their beliefs. I urge you to support this reform.
For more information, please see https://www.secularism.org.uk/scrap-bishops-bench.

Thank you for your time on this matter. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

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MP Letter: Bishops Bench

Bishops in the Lords

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