The Bishop of Newcastle has declared ‘no conflict of interest’ in her role on the Select Committee scrutinising the Assisted Dying Bill, despite receiving a salary and support from the Church of England, which has an organisational position opposing assisted dying.
The bishop has not however broken the Lords’ code of conduct due to a special exemption in the rules for the Lords Spiritual – the name given to 26 Church of England bishops with an automatic right to a seat in the House of Lords.
Humanists UK believes everyone has the right to support or oppose assisted dying, and for religious beliefs to inform those views, but the carveout and lack of declaration of interest highlight the unique privileges that apply to bishops – who can be paid to lobby against the Bill in a way no other parliamentarian can.
Special exemptions to Lords rules
The Bishop of Newcastle is currently serving on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Select Committee, which is currently scrutinising the Bill. In the recently published declaration of interests, the Bishop of Newcastle’s entry says: ’No relevant interests declared.’ During the evidence session on Wednesday 22 October, the Chair of the committee specifically invited the bishop to declare any interests. She replied, ‘I have no interests, relevant interests to declare.’
26 bishops of the Church of England sit by right in the House of Lords. No other religious leaders have automatic seats. During the second reading debate, both the Lord Bishop of London and the Archbishop of York outlined their intention to lead a vote against the Bill at Third Reading.
As part of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Lords, members are expected to declare if they have any financial interests:
‘Members of the House must not: (a) seek by parliamentary means to confer an exclusive benefit on an outside organisation or person in which they have a financial interest (e.g. salary, shareholding); or (b) accept or agree to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.’
However, there is a specific carve-out from these rules:
‘The rules on exclusive benefit and paid parliamentary advice and services do not apply to Lords Spiritual.’
The Bishop of Newcastle received a £51,910 stipend from the Church of England for 2024/25 as well as free accommodation. Like every other peer, she is also entitled to claim from the state a daily allowance of £371 for each day of work in the Lords, plus travel expenses and up to £100 for overnight accommodation costs. The Church of England firmly opposes assisted dying.
The bishop has declared her ‘episcopol stipend’ on the general Register of Interests (as have all other bishops). But she failed to declare it to the Committee, or explain anywhere the conflict of interest that entails in relation to her employer’s position on assisted dying.
Karen Wright, Public Affairs Manager at Humanists UK, said:
‘Everybody has the right to support or oppose assisted dying, and it is perfectly acceptable for your religious beliefs to inform those views.
‘However, there is an issue of transparency if you receive a paid salary from an organisation that has a policy of opposing assisted dying, and you are playing an important role in scrutinising it; those interests should be declared. That they were not in this case is a consequence of the unique privileges that the Church of England has through its bishops in the House of Lords. They shouldn’t be there at all.’
Get bishops out of the Lords
Bishops’ automatic seats in the House of Lords are undemocratic and a threat to a tolerant and diverse UK
The UK is alone among democratic sovereign states in having clerics vote on our laws.
The time is well and truly here to insist that bishops are removed from the House of Lords. Religious privilege in Parliament needs to end now
Support assisted dying
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will soon face crucial votes in the House of Lords.
The Bill’s passing is far from guaranteed. Everything is still to play for, and we need your help. By writing to peers, you can urge them to stand up for choice, dignity, and compassion for those who need it most.
Take action today by writing to members of the House of Lords today
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan@humanists.uk or phone 07456200033. (media only)
Humanists UK have people and their loved ones who would be affected by this change available for the press.
If you have been affected by the current assisted dying legislation, and want to use your story to support a change in the law, please email campaigns@humanists.uk.
Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to ‘Humanists UK’.
Assisted dying campaign
Humanists defend the right of each individual to live by their own personal values, and the freedom to make decisions about their own life so long as this does not result in harm to others. Humanists do not share the attitudes to death and dying held by some religious believers, in particular that the manner and time of death are for a deity to decide, and that interference in the course of nature is unacceptable. We firmly uphold the right to life but we recognise that this right carries with it the right of each individual to make their own judgement about whether their life should be prolonged in the face of pointless suffering.
We recognise that any assisted dying law must contain strong safeguards, but the international evidence from countries where assisted dying is legal shows that safeguards can be effective. We also believe that the choice of assisted dying should not be considered an alternative to palliative care, but should be offered together as in many other countries.
Read more about Humanists UK’s campaign to legalise assisted dying in the UK.
About Humanists UK
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.
Read more about Humanists UK’s campaign around bishops in the House of Lords.