Civil Preparedness for War

Lord Bishop of Manchester Excerpts

Monday 20th April 2026 Grand Committee

[The Lord Bishop of Manchester]

My Lords, I share the gratitude already expressed to the noble Baroness, Lady Harris of Richmond, for securing this debate. In the short time available I will make just three brief observations, and I assure the Minister that none of them would lead to much expense.

First, on faith communities, I applaud that documents often refer to faith communities, but sometimes we appear to be wrapped up into a generic voluntary, community and faith sector. Faith groups are not just another example of voluntary or community activity; their reach goes much deeper into every corner of society. Their numbers far outweigh other bodies. They have different decision-making structures and are often networked in complex but effective ways, and many have significant links to the memberships of international bodies.

Our faith groups can and will have a major role to play in any situation that requires civil engagement and response, but that requires them to be seen as what they are, not lumped into a more convenient category. I am very grateful in my own diocese that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority fully recognises that distinctiveness. Having a very informed and supportive mayor means that we are recognised for who we are, and I believe that we make a major contribution already to civil society, as we could in terms of preparedness for a war situation.

Secondly, one word that has been uttered several times today is resilience. When I devoted my “Thought for the Day” on Radio 4 last Monday morning—that is an advert—to an exploration of that concept, I had not at that point decided that I would speak today. What I suggested then—that moral resilience is just as vital as military—remains my firm belief. Moral resilience in the face of war, or the threat of war, matters because war is not just about defending territory; it is about defending the values that underpin our society. Those currently attacking us online are deliberately seeking to pick away at those values, so the thrust of our response must be to bolster the principles of a just and open society. It must not undermine them.

Civil liberties matter, including the right to protest peacefully. The expression of diverse and dissenting viewpoints, legitimately held within Britain and in the public square, lies at the heart of who we are as a nation. These are not “nice to haves” or values that can be readily disposed of should they prove inconvenient. They are what has helped many of us to be proud of Britain, as the noble Lord, Lord Bailey of Paddington, reminded us—and being able to be proud of our country is pretty vital.

Finally, and briefly, any incorporation of civilians or civilian organisations into the defence of the realm must ensure that there is absolutely no scope for the creation or legitimation of the kinds of paramilitary or vigilante groups that presently so deeply scar the reputations of many nations. With those provisos, I am grateful that matters of civil preparedness are now being taken seriously.