A recent YouGov poll found that that only 22% of Britons support the continued presence of bishops in the House of Lords, with 52% favouring their removal.
This data aligns with growing public and parliamentary momentum to end the practice of reserving automatic seats for 26 Church of England bishops in the UK’s Upper House.
For over a century, reformists have had their eyes set on the House of Lords that also counts aristocrats who inherit their position, and people appointed largely on the wishes of the prime minister as members.
Many in the UK argue that its make-up is outdated and democratically indefensible, while defenders believe that it still works well in spite of its unusual composition.
Anglican Ink writes: “Because of the strength of opinion on both sides within Westminster, previous reforms have often been piecemeal, focussing on restricting the Lords’ powers or making minor adjustments to its composition, such as the last Labour government’s capping of the number of hereditary peers at 92.”
The latest reform of the chamber, announced by the Labour government, is set to remove hereditary peers altogether.
But the Labour majority of MPs voted against a proposed amendment to the bill to also include abolishing the automatic granting of seats to 26 archbishops and senior bishops of the Church of England.
The reason given for the rejection of the amendment was that Labour wished to avoid disruption to a bill delivering a manifesto commitment.
The YouGov poll found only one in six Britons (16%) support the House of Lords’ current set-up, while 61% oppose it.
The same ratio applies to the public view on hereditary peers.
30% want the House of Lords abolished altogether, but 42% want it maintained.
An entirely elected Upper House is preferred by most parties aside from the Conservatives who support (50%) a part-elected, part-appointed body.
Currently, the UK and the Islamic Republic of Iran are the only sovereign states where religious clerics hold voting rights in their legislatures.
Bishops in the House of Lords enjoy unique privileges beyond those afforded to other peers.
According to a 2020 All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group report, they have direct and preferential access to government officials, and parliamentary convention ensures that all members cease speaking if a bishop rises to address the chamber.
Their votes have also proven decisive in shaping legislation that benefits the Church.
