MPs Reject Amendment to Remove Bishops from Lords

The UK Parliament has passed Labour's bill aimed at abolishing hereditary peers in the House of Lords, but a Conservative attempt to remove Church of England bishops was overwhelmingly rejected. Sir Gavin Williamson's amendment, which sought to oust the bishops, was defeated by 378 votes to 41, despite calls from some MPs who argued that bishops should focus on church matters following Archbishop Justin Welby's resignation over a child abuse scandal. Welby's departure marked a significant moment as he was the first Archbishop to be forced out due to failures in addressing the abuse cover-up. The Makin review highlighted a lack of accountability regarding the church's handling of cases, including the notorious abuser John Smyth. Critics, including SNP MP Pete Wishart, suggested that bishops are ill-suited for legislative roles and should instead concentrate on addressing internal church issues. The overall bill reflects Labour's commitment to modernize the House of Lords, including potential future reforms to introduce a retirement age for peers.