THE new Bishop of Durham will be introduced to the House of Lords next week.

The Right Reverend Paul Butler, who was enthroned at Durham Cathedral last Saturday (February 22), will take his place in Parliament on Monday (March 3).

He will swear an allegiance to the Queen and sign up to the Lords’ Code of Conduct.

The Bishop of Durham, the Church of England’s fourth most senior clergyman, is automatically entitled to a seat in the House of Lords as a Lord Spiritual.

Bishop Butler said: “I am delighted to be introduced to the House, it is a great honour.

“It will give me a chance to raise important North-East issues on a national stage and to be an advocate for the region along with championing the causes of social injustice, poverty and personal hardship in communities across the diocese and the wider region.”

Bishop Butler will make his maiden House of Lords speech at a later date.