This week, three Church of England bishops will take up their new roles as members of the House of Lords.
The Rt Rev Rick Simpson, Bishop of Durham; the Rt Rev Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells; and the Rt Rev Dr Jonathan Gibbs, Bishop of Rochester, will be formally introduced to the House as Lords Spiritual.
They join the Bishops of Blackburn and Birmingham, who were introduced to the House of Lords earlier this month.
Here’s how the Church of England’s representatives in Parliament, known as the Lords Spiritual, play a crucial role in democracy.
How many Church of England bishops are in the House of Lords?
There are 26 seats reserved in the House of Lords for Church of England bishops, known as the Lords Spiritual.
Five of these seats are reserved for the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishops of London, Durham and Winchester, with the Bishop of London one currently vacant.
The remaining 21 seats are allocated to other eligible diocesan bishops across the Church of England. The maximum number of Lords Spiritual has been capped at 26 since 1847.
When a bishop retires, usually at the age of 70, their seat becomes vacant. Historically, vacancies were filled according to seniority. However, since the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 was passed, eligible women diocesan bishops have been given priority for vacant seats.
This provision is due to continue until at least 2030. There are currently seven women serving as Lords Spiritual.
What do the Lords Spiritual do?
The Lords Spiritual debate policy, scrutinise legislation and vote on bills.
Bills are usually considered by the House of Lords after passing through the House of Commons. Peers can propose amendments and scrutinise legislation in detail.
If the House of Lords makes changes to a bill, it is usually returned to the House of Commons for MPs to consider those amendments. This process can continue until both Houses agree on the final text, subject to the rules governing the passage of legislation.
The Lords Spiritual cannot permanently block most legislation, but the House of Lords can delay its passage in certain circumstances. One recent example is the Assisted Dying Bill, which faced delays in the House of Lords before the legislation ultimately fell when Parliament was prorogued.
The Lords Spiritual sit as non-party-affiliated members and are not aligned with political parties.