Purple Passage

Is it that time again? Polly Toynbee on removing the bishops from the House of Lords.

They are said to be there because of Establishment, whereas in fact they have been there since several centuries before the Reformation; indeed, they once predominated in the House as a whole. And their removal is said to be an attack on Establishment, which it is not.

In place of 26 bishops, let there be 13 elected representatives (strictly non-party, of course) of moral and spiritual values, and the same of the United Kingdom’s Christian heritage, a more than fair arrangement when one considers that the United Kingdom is seventy-two per cent Christian.

Each of us would vote for one candidate, the 13 highest scorers would be declared elected, the term of office might be five years, and casual vacancies would be filled by bringing in number 14.