Date: 13 May 2022
The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson made his maiden speech in the House of Lords this week.
A maiden speech is the first speech made in the Chamber by a new member of the House of Commons or Lords.
He told the Upper House that the current inflationary pressures are making foobanks across the diocese busier than ever.
The Lords were debating the content of this week's Queen’s Speech.
Speaking on the first day of five set aside for the Upper Chamber, the Government’s draft Leveling Up legislation was being scrutinised.
Bishop Andrew, who joins 25 other senior Bishops sitting in the Lords, told the peers that although Guildford had a reputation of affluence, the diocese suffered from, “huge localised inequalities”.
He recalled visiting one of the 30 food banks in the region a couple of weeks ago.
He reminded the House that, “It is tough to live in a deprived community, … within a wealthy community, … constantly surrounded by reminders of how the other half lives. Indeed, research has demonstrated time and again that the least happy societies are not the poorest but the most unequal.”
“While I would never wish to set the regional in competition with the local when it comes to the levelling-up agenda, I welcome the White Paper’s acknowledgement of both phenomena, and would encourage this House to keep both in mind as this debate develops over the coming months,” he said.
Bishop Andrew concluded by saying that he looks forward to making a small but genuine contribution to the House of Lords in the months and years to come.
He was formally introduced into the Lords in February by the Bishops of Birmingham and Carlisle.
Watch Bishop Andrew's speech.