Co-op Funeralcare welcomes government proposals for regulation of the funeral sector

05 August 2026

Caoilionn Hurley, Managing Director of Co-op Life Services said:

“As the UK’s leading funeral provider, Co-op Funeralcare welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to introducing statutory regulation across all settings in England and Wales in which the deceased rest.

“We are appalled by the crimes committed by Robert Bush. The Legacy case has been incredibly distressing for the bereaved families involved, and our thoughts remain with all those directly or individually affected.

“Caring for the deceased whilst providing the highest standard of care is at the heart of everything we do, and it informs every decision we make as we serve communities across the nation every single day. As such, we believe independent oversight of the whole sector is necessary to provide absolute consistency and reassurance to all bereaved families that their loved ones are treated with the utmost levels of dignity and respect.

“However, it is imperative that new regulatory measures work to protect the dignity of the deceased, and do not inadvertently have negative consequences for the grieving family.

“We would therefore support the introduction of regulation that is proportionate, well-designed and enforced by the Human Tissue Authority to help ensure that standards of care are consistent across all organisations with responsibility for the care of the deceased and would expect to see this introduced during the current parliament.”