Bishop Champions Suffolk in House of Lords
Bishop Martin has called on the Government to act now on the climate crisis for the long-term future of everyone.
Bishop Martin delivered his maiden speech on Monday 16 May in the House of Lords, as he enters the House as a Lord representing the Church of England, setting out his intentions to be a voice for Suffolk in parliament.
Speaking on the third day of the Queen’s Speech debate which focussed on the economy, energy and the environment, Bishop Martin also highlighted rural poverty and isolation and the challenges facing the young especially.
Bishop Martin said: “I have had the joy and privilege of serving the people of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, which comprises most of the wonderful county of Suffolk, for the past seven years. It has been a journey of great discovery, learning about rural life, agriculture, care of the land and environment, the conditions of rural poverty and isolation, and the challenges particularly facing young people, that are hidden behind picture post card scenes of beautiful landscape and coastline. It is these concerns and experiences that I hope to bring to the attention of the House and Her Majesty’s Government.”
On the content of the Queen’s speech, Bishop Martin raised points relating to the rising cost of energy and action of the climate crisis calling for the Government to act now for the long term future.
The Bishop also told peers of his aim to grow a tree from seed for every one of the 478 churches in the diocese, as a gift to honour Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
“It is an act of fruit of which I will never see. I might say, an act of faith. I believe it is in this spirit that we should approach the issues of energy and the climate crisis.”
By convention, when making a maiden speech, new members of the House of Lords are expected to avoid controversy and keep their remarks short.
Speech transcript | PDF