The MP for Stoke-on-Trent North has criticised bishops in the House of Lords for speaking out against the government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

During his appearance on BBC’s World at One on Monday, Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis said he doesn’t think “unelected bishops in the House of Lords should be preaching about politics”.

His comments follow a series of senior bishops in the Church of England criticising the “immorality” of the policy, including The Archbishop of Canterbury, who last week called for the immigration plans to be based on compassion and recognition of human dignity.

Gullis continued: “I think they should be looking in-house at the wide abuse claims, and the Archbishop of Canterbury should be spending his time focusing on the Church’s reputation.

“I sadly think that there are too many people using the pulpit to preach from, and actually I think they’re out of touch with the overall majority of this great country.”

On Monday, campaigners who argued the plans were illegal, lost their legal fight against the government.