A briefing paper on the office and functions of the Prime Minister

A briefing paper on the office and functions of the Prime Minister

Since the 19th century there have been statutory restrictions on members of the Catholic and Jewish faiths making – and advising the Crown on – appointments in the Church of England. This includes the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, who advise the Monarch on bishops and other offices in the established church. This research briefing looks at the historic basis of these restrictions and how they work in practice.

Since the 19th century there have been statutory restrictions on members of the Catholic and Jewish faiths making – and advising the Crown on – appointments in the Church of England. This includes the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, who advise the Monarch on bishops and other offices in the...

A briefing paper on the history, functions and membership of the Privy Council

A briefing paper on the history, functions and membership of the Privy Council

A briefing paper on the constitutional aspects of the Crown

A briefing paper on the constitutional aspects of the Crown

A briefing paper on the relationship between church and state in the United Kingdom, covering the Church of England and Church of Scotland. There are shorter sections on the Church in Wales and the Church of Ireland.

A briefing paper on the relationship between church and state in the United Kingdom, covering the Church of England and Church of Scotland. There are shorter sections on the Church in Wales and the Church of Ireland.

A briefing paper on the history of and procedure relating to Royal Assent, not just in the UK Parliament but in the devolved legislatures and for Church of England Measures.

A briefing paper on the history of and procedure relating to Royal Assent, not just in the UK Parliament but in the devolved legislatures and for Church of England Measures.

A briefing paper on the first year of the reign of King Charles III, with a focus on constitutional and ceremonial events which have taken place between the King's accession in September 2022 and Accession Day in September 2023.

A briefing paper on the first year of the reign of King Charles III, with a focus on constitutional and ceremonial events which have taken place between the King's accession in September 2022 and Accession Day in September 2023.

My Lords, I introduced a similar amendment, but in different words, in Committee. We had an interesting, and at times quite lively, debate, and I am sorry that my noble friend Lord Deben is not here because I was rather looking forward to crossing swords with him on this one.

The...

My Lords, I introduced a similar amendment, but in different words, in Committee. We had an interesting, and at times quite lively, debate, and I am sorry that my noble friend Lord Deben is not here because I was rather looking forward to crossing swords with him on this one.

The...

My noble friend Lord Northbrook has attached his name to the amendment. It raises a slightly different issue. It is another way of dealing with the matter touched on by the noble Lord, Lord Cormack, in his Amendment 4. It is a way of dealing with this matter by way...

My noble friend Lord Northbrook has attached his name to the amendment. It raises a slightly different issue. It is another way of dealing with the matter touched on by the noble Lord, Lord Cormack, in his Amendment 4. It is a way of dealing with this matter by way...

My Lords, with Clause 2 we come to the kernel of the Bill. As your Lordships will know, that clause at the moment reads:

“A person is not disqualified from succeeding to the Crown or from possessing it as a result of marrying a person of the Roman Catholic faith”.

It is...

My Lords, with Clause 2 we come to the kernel of the Bill. As your Lordships will know, that clause at the moment reads:

“A person is not disqualified from succeeding to the Crown or from possessing it as a result of marrying a person of the Roman Catholic faith”.

It is...

I do not intend to speak to this amendment at any length. We have covered some of its detail, although by no means all of it, in recent discussions, but I would like to hear what the Minister’s response to it would be. Without wishing to detain your Lordships, therefore,...

I do not intend to speak to this amendment at any length. We have covered some of its detail, although by no means all of it, in recent discussions, but I would like to hear what the Minister’s response to it would be. Without wishing to detain your Lordships, therefore,...

My Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Succession to the Crown Bill, has consented to place her prerogative and interest, so far as they are affected by the Bill, at...

My Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Succession to the Crown Bill, has consented to place her prerogative and interest, so far as they are affected by the Bill, at...

It occurs to me that the Leader of the House must have a sense of humour. Today, as I am sure you know, Mr Speaker, is the anniversary of the death of his late Majesty King Henry VIII, so it seems only appropriate that we should be discussing the Succession...

It occurs to me that the Leader of the House must have a sense of humour. Today, as I am sure you know, Mr Speaker, is the anniversary of the death of his late Majesty King Henry VIII, so it seems only appropriate that we should be discussing the Succession...

We are discussing what may be the most important constitutional issue to which the House has ever turned its mind, namely, who shall be our sovereign? Who shall be eligible to receive perhaps the greatest office in the world? Who shall be the King or Queen of England?

When the Bill...

We are discussing what may be the most important constitutional issue to which the House has ever turned its mind, namely, who shall be our sovereign? Who shall be eligible to receive perhaps the greatest office in the world? Who shall be the King or Queen of England?

When the Bill...

I beg to move amendment 4, page 1, line 9, after ‘person’, insert

‘who married a person of the Roman Catholic faith’.

Thank you for calling me to speak, Mr Deputy Speaker—I am sorry, Mr Hoyle. I will get it right in the end. It is so difficult when people have so...

I beg to move amendment 4, page 1, line 9, after ‘person’, insert

‘who married a person of the Roman Catholic faith’.

Thank you for calling me to speak, Mr Deputy Speaker—I am sorry, Mr Hoyle. I will get it right in the end. It is so difficult when people have so...

I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Bill, has consented to place her prerogative and interest, so far as they are affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the...

I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Bill, has consented to place her prerogative and interest, so far as they are affected by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the...

Adjournment debate on the Act of Settlement and constitutional reform relating to the succession to the throne.

Adjournment debate on the Act of Settlement and constitutional reform relating to the succession to the throne.

But there is not a single Catholic in the land who does not think that the law should be changed.

But there is not a single Catholic in the land who does not think that the law should be changed.

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising something that is not only offensive to Roman Catholics and people of many other faiths, but offensive to anyone who wants equality under the law in our constitution in all respects. He will know that one of the arguments made against...

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising something that is not only offensive to Roman Catholics and people of many other faiths, but offensive to anyone who wants equality under the law in our constitution in all respects. He will know that one of the arguments made against...

I do not think that it would be, but I happen to know that some of those discussions have already happened with many parts of the Commonwealth, and I do not see any reason why we would not be able to proceed fairly swiftly. It is worth pointing out that,...

I do not think that it would be, but I happen to know that some of those discussions have already happened with many parts of the Commonwealth, and I do not see any reason why we would not be able to proceed fairly swiftly. It is worth pointing out that,...