The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Dr David Walker, has been acting as duty bishop in the House of Lords for the week beginning Monday, 20th January 2025. This Lords Spiritual role involves being on duty to respond to business in the House as well as saying prayers at the start of each day.
Friday, 17th January 2025
Just before his week as duty bishop started, Bishop David tabled his Private Members’ Bill. This Bill, titled the Universal Credit (Standard Allowance Entitlement of Care Leavers) Bill, seeks to address the financial challenges faced by young people who have recently left care.
Bishop David’s initiative is an important and compassionate step towards addressing a significant gap in support for care leavers. By extending the higher standard allowance of Universal Credit to those under 25, he’s aiming to provide these young people with more financial stability as they navigate the challenges of independent living after leaving care.
This is especially crucial as care leavers often face difficulties in securing employment and housing, and the additional support can make a substantial difference in their ability to manage day-to-day living costs. Bishop David’s decision to introduce this bill in the House of Lords highlights the ongoing work to advocate for vulnerable groups who may not have the same resources or networks to rely on.
You can watch Bishop David's speech, where he explains why he chose to introduce this Bill, here.
Tuesday, 21st January 2025
Bishop David highlighted the role of churches in providing vital support to the NHS and social care through community activities such as those run through the Warm Welcome Scheme. Baroness Merron paid tribute to volunteers who offer "the finest examples of community provision and support through churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship."
We are grateful to clergy and lay leaders such as our Authorised Lay Ministers, Gemma and Ben Tombling, who coordinate three Warm Spaces each week at churches in Wythenshawe. Read more about them in this article shared by the Church of England.
Watch the full speech here:
Bishop David spoke on the importance of proportionality in free speech, emphasising the need to distinguish between difficult conversations and situations where free speech devolves into mob intimidation. "It is about how we make that distinction between a difficult conversation and people being intimidated by loud, vociferous, angry behaviour that seeks deliberately to make them uncomfortable."
Watch the full speech here:
Wednesday, 22nd January 2025
Bishop David asked if the Government will commit to providing funding for the Inter Faith Network, commending the vital role it played in coordinating interfaith work at a national level.
Following the Government’s statement on the Middle East, Bishop David asked what assurances can be given on getting aid to al-Ahli hospital in northern Gaza, where over 1,000 emergency patients arrive daily and the library and historic church are being used as wards.
Responding to the Government’s statement on the historic 100-year partnership with Ukraine, Bishop David noted that a lasting friendship must go beyond defence, with deeper connections, including with the Ukrainian Catholic Church. He asked what other civil society links can be strengthened to benefit both the people of the Ukraine and the UK?