The British Humanist Association (BHA) has today responded to the White Paper “An Elected Second Chamber”.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer, said, “We were disappointed when we saw in the White Paper the Government’s intention to retain reserved seats for Bishops in a reformed chamber which had an appointed section. Further correspondence from the Ministry of Justice has failed to give any substantive reason why the seats for Bishops should be retained – not least because the Government does not want reserved places should the House be 100% elected. For example, that shows that to abolish the automatic right for Church of England Bishops to sit in our legislature would not constitute disestablishment.”
Ms Phillips continued, “The UK is the only democratic country to give seats in its legislature to religious representatives as of right. The presence of the Church of England in the House of Lords entrenches a privileged position for one particular branch of one particular religion that cannot be justified in today’s increasingly diverse and increasingly non-religious society. It is at odds with the aspiration of a more legitimate and representative second chamber. Further, to claim as the Government has that Bishops are uniquely qualified to provide ethical and spiritual insights – and therefore should retain their right to sit in the second chamber – is factually incorrect and offensive.”
The BHA’s response to the White Paper makes a number of recommendations regarding the position of reserved places for religious representatives in the House of Lords:
- There should be no designated religious, or specifically non-religious, representation in a reformed second chamber as a right.
- Should the Government decide to retain reserved seats for the Church of England Bishops, the Church of England should not be granted autonomy in the selection of those Bishops who would sit in the chamber.
- The Appointments Commission should not have a specific remit to encourage and appoint religious representatives.
- Should the reformed second chamber need to consult representatives of the Church of England, it follows the method that would be used for consulting with senior public servants, members of religion or belief groups and other external experts: committees taking written and oral evidence.
- That, should the Government decide to retain reserved seats for the Church of England Bishops, they do not receive taxable salaries.
The BHA also draws attention to:
- The inability of the Church of England Bishops to meet the Government’s own criteria for assessing potential appointees.
- The impact that a voting bloc of representatives from a single organisation would have on the second chamber’s independence.
Notes
For further information or comment contact Naomi Phillips or on 020 7079 3585.
See the BHA’s response to the white paper (PDF).
An Ipsos MORI poll in October 2006 showed that more people think that the government pays too much attention to ‘religious groups and leaders’ than to any other domestic group.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) represents and supports the non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.