People 'have not been listened to' on Brexit, says Bishop of Leeds

Theresa May answers questions in Parliament, 28 November 2018 (Photo: UK Parliament)

The Bishop of Leeds has called for a cross-party solution as Westminster continues to fight over the terms of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

In the House of Lords on Monday, Bishop Nick Baines said it was time for Prime Minister Theresa May and the Government to 'stop playing a zero-sum game' on Brexit.

'My Lords, the Prime Minister says in her statement [on exiting the EU] that those who continue to disagree need to shoulder the responsibility of advocating an alternative solution that can be delivered,' he said.

'Surely that is everybody's responsibility. She goes on to ask people to be honest about the implications of what they want. However, it seems to me that people have been honest for the last couple of years but they have not been listened to.'

The bishop said that cross-party engagement could help the nation's leaders 'find a credible way ahead'.

In last week's Lords debate on Brexit, the bishop had called for a withdrawal agreement that presents a bigger vision for the nation than 'just trade relationships'.

He warned that the legacy of Brexit was starting to look like 'a corruption of public discourse, polarisation between people and communities, and a too frequent reduction of the polity to the merely economic'.

He also said it was 'fantasy' to think that a better deal could have been negotiated, although he stopped short of giving it his outright support.

'That does not address the question of whether this compromise is acceptable but the options were never vast, even if some of the fantasies about Brexit were ridiculous,' he said.

'It was clear from the beginning that some circles were never capable of being squared, and the Government should have been honest about that from the word go.'

May was forced to delay the vote on her deal in the face of a likely defeat.

50% OFF
HDPE All-Weather Adirondack Chair with Built-In Cup Holder - Tool-Free Assembly (Grey)
$69.99 $139.99
60% OFF
HOMETUK Clear Plastic Storage Bins with Dividers - 3-Pack Stackable Acrylic Organizer Containers for Fridge and Pantry
$19.99 $49.99
58% OFF
G Gradual Men's Fishing Shirt - UPF 50+ Lightweight Short Sleeve Button Down with Zipper Pockets
$14.99 $35.99
11% OFF
VitaUp Beet Root Gummies with CoQ10 & Grape Seed - Nitric Oxide Circulation Support (60 Count)
$24.91 $27.91
55% OFF
Everyfun 60" Rectangular Platform Tree Swing - 700lbs Heavy Duty Adjustable Outdoor Swing (Colorful)
$49.99 $110.99
61% OFF
Ekouaer Women's Casual Loose Jumpsuit - One-Piece Printed Sleeveless Wide Leg Romper with Pockets
$14.99 $37.99
40% OFF
ROTAKE TB3 20V Heavy Duty 1/2" Cordless Impact Wrench Kit - 1380 Ft-Lbs Torque
$132 $219.99
36% OFF
Men's Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight & Quick Dry
$12.74 $19.99
61% OFF
Modern Ceiling Fan with Light and Remote - Reversible Quiet DC Motor
$69.3 $179.99
50% OFF
MOOKA H13 True HEPA Air Purifier for Home Large Room - 1076 sq ft Odor Eliminator
$39.97 $79.95
50% OFF
LINGDU V630 3-Channel 4K Dash Cam - Front, Cabin, and Rear Triple Car Camera with 64GB Card
$69.99 $139.99
60% OFF
GKBK Women’s Ribbed Short Sleeve Scoop Neck Slim Fit Tee – Stretchy Basic Summer Top 2026 Trendy Outfit Essential
$4 $9.99
60% OFF
Ekouaer Women's Satin Silky Pajama Set - Short Sleeve Pullover Top & Wide-Leg Pants
$13.99 $34.99
55% OFF
Ekouaer 3-Piece Maternity & Nursing Pajamas Set - Short Sleeve Top with Shorts and Pants
$14.99 $32.99
Sealy 2-Pack Tritech 16" Twin Inflatable Air Mattress with Built-in AC Pump
$0 $113.99
20% OFF
INTEX Prism Frame 20ft x 52in Above Ground Pool Set - Round Steel Frame Swimming Pool
$695.99 $869.99
Gardner Pet 43" Heavy Duty Dog Crate with Wheels - Indestructible Folding Metal Cage (Black)
$0 $149.99
12% OFF
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Bar Stools - Set of 4
$395.99 $449.99
23% OFF
Ergonomic Office Chair - Big and Tall Desk Chair with Adjustable Lumbar Support
$279.99 $363.99
26% OFF
Magnelex American Flag Windshield Sun Shade - High-Resolution UV Reflective Heat Shield (X-Large)
$19.9 $26.9
Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Church of England more than doubles conservation grants
Church of England more than doubles conservation grants

The significant rise in funding was attributed partly to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Male silence has helped shape UK abortion culture
Male silence has helped shape UK abortion culture

“Men and abortion is an area that is even more silenced than many of the other areas connected with women and abortion, which are silenced," says bioethicist Dr Anthony McCarthy.

Diary of a CEO’s Steven Bartlett and John Lennox discuss AI, faith and the search for meaning
Diary of a CEO’s Steven Bartlett and John Lennox discuss AI, faith and the search for meaning

The Oxford professor shared fears of a “colossal power grab” as AI continues to evolve.

Is there a two-tier Britain?
Is there a two-tier Britain?

When we abandon God and his Word – and base justice on identitarian politics - we end up with the madness we are seeing in the UK today.

Today's Top Deals

HDPE All-Weather Adirondack Chair with Built-In Cup Holder - Tool-Free Assembly (Grey)

$69.99
$139.99 50% OFF
View Deal

HOMETUK Clear Plastic Storage Bins with Dividers - 3-Pack Stackable Acrylic Organizer Containers for Fridge and Pantry

$19.99
$49.99 60% OFF
View Deal

G Gradual Men's Fishing Shirt - UPF 50+ Lightweight Short Sleeve Button Down with Zipper Pockets

$14.99
$35.99 58% OFF
View Deal

VitaUp Beet Root Gummies with CoQ10 & Grape Seed - Nitric Oxide Circulation Support (60 Count)

$24.91
$27.91 11% OFF
View Deal

Everyfun 60" Rectangular Platform Tree Swing - 700lbs Heavy Duty Adjustable Outdoor Swing (Colorful)

$49.99
$110.99 55% OFF
View Deal

Ekouaer Women's Casual Loose Jumpsuit - One-Piece Printed Sleeveless Wide Leg Romper with Pockets

$14.99
$37.99 61% OFF
View Deal

ROTAKE TB3 20V Heavy Duty 1/2" Cordless Impact Wrench Kit - 1380 Ft-Lbs Torque

$132
$219.99 40% OFF
View Deal

Men's Athletic Running Shorts with Zipper Pockets - Lightweight & Quick Dry

$12.74
$19.99 36% OFF
View Deal

Modern Ceiling Fan with Light and Remote - Reversible Quiet DC Motor

$69.3
$179.99 61% OFF
View Deal

MOOKA H13 True HEPA Air Purifier for Home Large Room - 1076 sq ft Odor Eliminator

$39.97
$79.95 50% OFF
View Deal

LINGDU V630 3-Channel 4K Dash Cam - Front, Cabin, and Rear Triple Car Camera with 64GB Card

$69.99
$139.99 50% OFF
View Deal

GKBK Women’s Ribbed Short Sleeve Scoop Neck Slim Fit Tee – Stretchy Basic Summer Top 2026 Trendy Outfit Essential

$4
$9.99 60% OFF
View Deal

Ekouaer Women's Satin Silky Pajama Set - Short Sleeve Pullover Top & Wide-Leg Pants

$13.99
$34.99 60% OFF
View Deal

Ekouaer 3-Piece Maternity & Nursing Pajamas Set - Short Sleeve Top with Shorts and Pants

$14.99
$32.99 55% OFF
View Deal

Sealy 2-Pack Tritech 16" Twin Inflatable Air Mattress with Built-in AC Pump

$0
$113.99 0% OFF
View Deal

INTEX Prism Frame 20ft x 52in Above Ground Pool Set - Round Steel Frame Swimming Pool

$695.99
$869.99 20% OFF
View Deal

Gardner Pet 43" Heavy Duty Dog Crate with Wheels - Indestructible Folding Metal Cage (Black)

$0
$149.99 0% OFF
View Deal

Elegant Mid-Century Modern Bar Stools - Set of 4

$395.99
$449.99 12% OFF
View Deal

Ergonomic Office Chair - Big and Tall Desk Chair with Adjustable Lumbar Support

$279.99
$363.99 23% OFF
View Deal

Magnelex American Flag Windshield Sun Shade - High-Resolution UV Reflective Heat Shield (X-Large)

$19.9
$26.9 26% OFF
View Deal