Prime Minister’s Office Moves to End Historic Catholic and Jewish Appointment Restrictions

The UK government is set to abolish a long-standing restriction that bars Roman Catholic and Jewish Prime Ministers from advising the monarch on senior Church of England appointments. This includes recommending candidates for bishops, deans, and some other Church roles.

Currently, when a Prime Minister identifies as Catholic or Jewish, these responsibilities are delegated to the First Lord of the Treasury, a position typically held by the Prime Minister but which can be formally separated to circumvent the ban.

Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester and a practising Catholic, criticised the existing legislation as 'unacceptable', arguing against any religious bar to performing the full duties of high office. This sentiment underscores the discriminatory nature of the current arrangement.

The reform aims to rectify what many consider an outdated and discriminatory practice, aligning the Prime Minister’s role with modern principles of religious equality. The Church of England itself has supported the removal of these restrictions, acknowledging the need for contemporary relevance.

The proposed legislative change would see Catholic and Jewish Prime Ministers able to engage fully in the advisory process for Church of England appointments, thereby eliminating a vestige of historical religious prejudice within the UK’s constitutional framework.