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March 30, 2007

Lord Harrison says it's time to rusticate the bishops in the Lords

Labour peer Lord Harrison has written a new comment piece for the web site of the Labour Humanist Group on why he would "rusticate" bishops in the House of Lords.

It's worth a read, I was particularly struck by Lord Harrison's account of how the Bishops apparently always assume when they rise to speak that they will be selected ahead of any other peer, and always refuse to back down:

"...it is a regular occurrence in Lords debates for the good prelates to out-face and out-stare others who wish to speak by remaining standing until any unfortunate Lords wishing to contribute is cowered into sitting down by the chorus from the supporters of the clerics to hear the Bishops first and foremost!"

I was about say "first among equals" but clearly that's not how the bishops see themselves!


Posted at 12:44 PM in Current Affairs, Labour Humanist Group |

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