The bishops’ defeat was less a verdict on their individual conduct than on the principle of guaranteed clerical power: Yes won by 336 votes to 230, with the room treating automatic seats as an anomaly that could no longer explain itself. The argument was constitutional before it was theological, even when the temperature rose.
The floor’s most-respected Yes case put the issue in the language of equal citizenship: “In a secular society, lawmaking must rest on universal equality and democratic legitimacy.” Other Yes voters called the arrangement a “relic of mediaeval theocracy”, demanded a cleaner separation of Church and state, and used the question as a proxy for a broader objection to an unelected Lords.
The strongest No voice was not a defence of bishops as such, but of continuity and institutional independence: “Independence from the mood is worth more than a tidy diagram.” Other No voters defended the established Church as part of the country’s Christian or Protestant inheritance, while one argued that “We are a Christian nation”; some also feared that removing bishops would open the door to Islamist influence.
That left the two sides talking past each other. Yes voters heard privilege without democratic consent — “Automatic seats for one denomination are hard to justify” — while No voters heard an attempt to flatten history into a modern secular template, with one otherwise hostile voice dismissing the bishops as a “woke left voting block”. The result therefore belongs to the wider argument over Lords reform, but it also records a sharper shift: even some defenders of the institution wanted its religious inheritance preserved more than its present occupants.
The room did not settle the future of the Lords; it made the bishops the easiest part of that argument to remove.
28 Opinions
The UK and Iran are the only sovereign states guaranteeing clerics automatic seats in their legislature. In a secular society, lawmaking must rest on universal equality and democratic legitimacy, not institutional religious privilege.
The Church of England has been captured by hard left ideology, they no longer represent Christian values or England. I would rather have seen the hereditaries retained, many of them were completely independent and dedicated to properly scrutinising all bills. Complete Reform is needed - getting rid of the sick bishops would be a useful start.
The inclusion of the bishops is a relic of mediaeval theocracy. Removing them would move us a little way further towards true democracy.
Whilst we have an established Church, I think we should keep them although they are now just a woke left voting block who care little for native Britons, which in its way will herald their removal. The Heredities were more valid than PM appointed placemen so the Socialists have effectively created a single chamber as they pack the HofL with those dedicated to destroying the UK.
We are not a multi faith country. The UK is a country with a Christian heritage and Christianity remains its largest religious affiliation, although it is now religiously diverse and has a large non-religious population. so whilst other religions are free to practice here we are still a christian country and should respect that. I'm atheist btw so not religiously invested in this question
No because you know they'd be replaced by sharia-serving imams. We are a Christian nation and the decisions made should be guided by the moral compass of our true religious values.
House of Lords! Pigs in a trough, what's the difference. As to c of e bishops won't be long before they will be chucked off buildings with surge in Islam.
We don'r need a House of Lords and a Supreme court. One should be closed down. I think the H o L should be closed and then the House of Commons can use their chambers while theirs is being refurbished. A Win Win for taxpayers.
Religion should be separated from the state. If that can’t be the case in this country, then we need a proportional number of religious representatives- including for atheists/agnostics dare I say. Also the HoL itself is not fit for purpose.
We need a clearer separation of Church and State. Religious leaders have no place in setting laws for secular citizens.